<p>What are the FPL implications of <strong>Jack Grealish (£8.0m)</strong> moving to <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/premier-league-fantasy-football-manchester-city-best-player-picks/"><strong>Manchester City</strong></a>?  Our resident <strong>Fantasy Premier League</strong> captaincy expert <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisTanFPL">Chris Tan</a> provides an overview.</p>
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<p><strong>Grealish to</strong> <strong>Man City</strong> for £100m is a club and league record signing. This has a number of FPL implications for both <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/aston-villa-fantasy-football-tips-team-preview/"><strong>Aston Villa</strong></a> and Man City. So where do we start?</p>
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<h2><strong><a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/essential-aston-villa-fpl-stats/">Aston Villa&#8217;s Stats</a> Without Grealish</strong></h2>
<p>We got a glimpse of what life would be like without Villa&#8217;s talisman due to his long period out of action last season. He was injured from <strong>Gameweek 25 to 35</strong>.</p>
<div id="attachment_37086" style="width: 747px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-37086" class="size-full wp-image-37086" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Villa-without-Grealish.png" alt="" width="737" height="690" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Villa-without-Grealish.png 737w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Villa-without-Grealish-300x281.png 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Villa-without-Grealish-610x571.png 610w" sizes="(max-width: 737px) 100vw, 737px" /><p id="caption-attachment-37086" class="wp-caption-text">The Grealish Chain Reaction &#8211; Villa with and without Grealish</p></div>
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<p>It&#8217;s a small sample, but we can see that <strong>their chance creation <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a> noticeably dropped</strong> in his absence.</p>
<p>They also c<strong>onceded more goals</strong>, however only in real terms. Their <strong>expected <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a></strong> remained similar, which suggests they may have been fortunate to have kept so many clean sheets earlier in the season and they regressed to the mean later on.</p>
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<h2><strong>How Will Aston Villa Line-up Without Grealish?</strong></h2>
<p>Aston Villa have made two excellent signings in <strong>Emiliano Buendía (£6.5M) </strong>and <strong>Leon Bailey (6.5M)</strong>. I expect more players to arrive now that the Grealish deal is finalised, but based on the current squad I expect them to set up something like this.</p>
<div id="attachment_37087" style="width: 971px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-37087" class="size-full wp-image-37087" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Villa-without-Grealish-Line-Up.png" alt="" width="961" height="1146" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Villa-without-Grealish-Line-Up.png 961w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Villa-without-Grealish-Line-Up-252x300.png 252w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Villa-without-Grealish-Line-Up-859x1024.png 859w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Villa-without-Grealish-Line-Up-768x916.png 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Villa-without-Grealish-Line-Up-610x727.png 610w" sizes="(max-width: 961px) 100vw, 961px" /><p id="caption-attachment-37087" class="wp-caption-text">The Grealish Chain Reaction &#8211; Villa without Grealish Line Up</p></div>
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<p>Both <strong>Buendia</strong> and <strong>Bailey</strong> favour playing on the right wing, however both are versatile and can play anywhere in the attack. I feel that Bailey will play on the right; that&#8217;s the best way to utilise his preferred cut inside. Buendia is more of a playmaker and can be more influential from the centre.</p>
<p>For now, that suggests that <strong>Anwar El Ghazi (£6.0m)</strong> may keep his place. That could mean he keeps penalties too, however I expect there to be further signings.</p>
<p><strong>Danny Ings (8.0M)</strong> has just been confirmed as signing for the villains and that should push <strong>Ollie Watkins (£7.5m)</strong> to the left forward role (although he&#8217;s played primarily as a central and right forward in his career).</p>
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<h2><strong>How Will Aston Villa Perform Without Grealish?</strong></h2>
<p>Nobody truly knows, but we saw enough last season to suggest that <strong>they&#8217;ll be okay</strong>. Despite losing their talisman, they&#8217;ve gained a player with <strong>more goal threat</strong> and an equally good creative outlet in Buendia.</p>
<p>This suggests that the team as a whole will be stronger and potentially more balanced. Their <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fixture-ticker-old/"><strong>opening fixtures</strong></a> against <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/the-best-watford-fpl-players/"><strong>Watford</strong></a> (A), <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/newcastle-fantasy-football-tips-team-preview/"><strong>Newcastle</strong></a> (H) and <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/the-best-brentford-fpl-players/"><strong>Brentford</strong></a> (H) should provide sufficient information.</p>
<p>I&#8217;d be happy to start with at least one Aston Villa player. The new signings bode well for <strong>FPL managers</strong> interested in Smith&#8217;s side.</p>
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<h2 style="text-align: left;"><strong>How will Grealish fit in at Manchester City?</strong></h2>
<p>Although different players, there are a lot of parallels between Grealish and <strong>Riyad Mahrez (£9.0m)</strong>. Both were talismanic figures for their former clubs that made their big move to Manchester City under <strong>Pep Guardiola</strong>.</p>
<p>Pep demands his players play a certain way and will not accept any shortcomings (just ask Aguero). In his first season for City, Mahrez only started <strong>14 games</strong> and was on the bench for <strong>10 games</strong>.</p>
<p>I suspect that Grealish will be phased in in a similar way.</p>
<div id="attachment_37090" style="width: 718px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-37090" class="size-full wp-image-37090" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/City-with-Grealish.png" alt="" width="708" height="958" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/City-with-Grealish.png 708w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/City-with-Grealish-222x300.png 222w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/City-with-Grealish-610x825.png 610w" sizes="(max-width: 708px) 100vw, 708px" /><p id="caption-attachment-37090" class="wp-caption-text">The Grealish Chain Reaction &#8211; City with Grealish</p></div>
<p>I wish to make no claims of being a City expert, but this gives a rough idea of how I expect to see them setting up once they have their full squad available.</p>
<p>You&#8217;ll notice that unlike where he plays for <strong>Aston Villa</strong>, I expect Grealish to be <strong>played centrally</strong>.</p>
<p>This is both his preferred position and where <strong>Sam Lee</strong> (from the Athletic) indicated that Pep would like to utilise him. He&#8217;d be Pep&#8217;s &#8216;Iniesta&#8217;.</p>
<div id="attachment_37099" style="width: 1194px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-37099" class="size-full wp-image-37099" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot-2021-08-04-at-17.13.32.png" alt="Is Grealish a good FPL asset at City?" width="1184" height="1104" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot-2021-08-04-at-17.13.32.png 1184w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot-2021-08-04-at-17.13.32-300x280.png 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot-2021-08-04-at-17.13.32-1024x955.png 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot-2021-08-04-at-17.13.32-768x716.png 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot-2021-08-04-at-17.13.32-610x569.png 610w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot-2021-08-04-at-17.13.32-1080x1007.png 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 1184px) 100vw, 1184px" /><p id="caption-attachment-37099" class="wp-caption-text">Sam Lee&#8217;s take on Grealish&#8217;s role at City.</p></div>
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<p>Furthermore, City have an abundance of attacking wide forwards. I just can&#8217;t see Grealish being used on the left wing.</p>
<p>One possible solution would be to play both him and <strong>Phil Foden (£8.0M)</strong> on the left to allow them to interchange, but then that leaves the question of where <strong>Raheem Sterling (£11.0M)</strong> goes. Has he found redemption under Guardiola&#8217;s management?</p>
<p>At first glance, Grealish does not appear to be a player that City require based on their system.</p>
<p>But I&#8217;ve have seen first-hand how Pep has coached players like <strong>Kevin De Bruyne (£12.0M)</strong> and Sterling. He turns them from good players into world class players.</p>
<p>I&#8217;m excited about his potential for both City and England but I don&#8217;t expect him to become a crucial FPL asset from the outset.</p>
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<h2>Is Jack Grealish a Better FPL Option at City?</h2>
<p>Overall, this is very much a wait and see for me.</p>
<p><strong>I don&#8217;t expect Grealish to play every game for City</strong>, which significantly<strong> reduces his FPL value</strong>.</p>
<p>Similar to every season since Pep came over, the best City players to own are the ones that start the majority of the games. For now it&#8217;s unclear who that will be.</p>
<p>With regards to <strong>Aston Villa</strong>, I am quite bullish about their prospects.</p>
<p>Similar to when <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/premier-league-fantasy-football-liverpool-best-player-picks/"><strong>Liverpool</strong></a> lost Suarez and Coutinho, or when Leicester lost the aforementioned Mahrez, the clubs have gone from strength to strength. Villa have already made some excellent signings and I don&#8217;t expect them to stop now.</p>
<p>I believe that <strong>Grealish leaving makes Buendia an even better FPL pick</strong>. Bailey has the potential to be a more efficient version of <strong>Bertrand Traore (£6.0m)</strong> but I&#8217;ll need to see more of him before I make any judgements.</p>
<p>I expect Watkins to build on what was an excellent debut season.</p>
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What are the FPL implications of Grealish moving to City?

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