Chelsea Transfer News: Jack Grealish Should Resist Blues' Advances

Although there’s few that harbour too much sympathy for footballers, it must be difficult being a young player amid the frenetic landscape of the modern game.

Sure, it’s easy for fans to say that the best prospects should stick with the clubs that bring them through, but if an illustrious name shows interest and stumps up a lucrative offer, it must be difficult to turn a blind eye.

These kinds of talents are usually unreservedly ambitious, after all, and they will typically back themselves to make an impression anywhere. Plus, there’s the financial security that could potentially accompany a move to one of England’s elite. One big move and you’re potentially sorted for life, such are the astronomical wages paid to the brightest young stars.

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Aston Villa's Jack Grealish is a player reportedly facing the aforementioned predicament, leaving the 18-year-old with a big decision to make before he’s even out of his teenage years. According to Adrian Kajumba of the Daily Star, contract talks are stalling with his current employers and that has alerted Chelsea to the potential of making a move for the capricious youngster.

With his deal set to expire at the end of the current campaign, Grealish would be free to leave behind Villa—the club that have moulded and nurtured him as a player—in favour of the tantalisingly bright lights of Stamford Bridge.

But at this stage of his development, he should resist any approach the Blues make and stick it out with the Villains.

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For a young player like Grealish, time on the pitch is absolutely critical for steady development. And despite his relative inexperience, he’s already on the cusp of the Aston Villa first team, having made his full debut for the club against Manchester City in May; he’s already made two substitute appearances for Villa this season, too.

He’s a player that is rated as one of the top prospects in the Premier League and if the winger can continue to show what he can do in these brief cameo appearances, then he’ll surely be a regular first-team fixture for Paul Lambert’s side sooner rather than later.

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He’ll be learning plenty from these fleeting displays, too, perhaps most notably about the abrasive nature of the Premier League, as noted here by Martin Laurence of WhoScored.com:

But if he was to make the switch to join Chelsea, would he be making a similar impression? Would he be afforded the time on the pitch to catch the eye in the manner he has done for Villa?

Undeniably the answer is no at this juncture. Although Jose Mourinho regularly professes a narrative that’s centred around bringing youngsters through the system, his blueprint for the club is clear: spend big money on quality players who are at their peak.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with that mantra if you can fund it. Given Chelsea’s magnificent summer transfer dealings it’s a philosophy that looks as though it could bring them the Premier League title, after all. But focusing on Grealish, the last thing he wants at this stage is to join an underpinning crop of young players at Stamford Bridge that have little hope of breaching the first team.

Lambert has shown himself to be a manager that puts trust in academy prospects and subsequently, Grealish should see plenty of time on the pitch this season. The direct, counter-attacking style that Villa typically operate under also suits the youngster's attributes down to the ground.

Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe gives us a succinct summation of his best attributes here:

In addition, there’s much to be said about playing for a club that aren’t waltzing away with the league title. Villa have begun their campaign very well but there will be times this season when they do struggle, and dealing with those low moments are a critical stage of any player’s development.

Plus, it’s clear that the lad born in Birmingham remains infatuated with his boyhood club:

One day—ideally a few years down the line—Grealish could warrant a move to Chelsea as an established Premier League player. One that’s accrued plenty of experience despite his young age, learned plenty from playing at one of England’s biggest clubs and is ready to make the next step in what’s already been a promising career.

But he’s not ready yet and in some respects, neither are Chelsea. Although the prospect of a move to Stamford Bridge is enticing, now’s the time to be considered, realistic and do what’s best for his development.