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It is only two years since the transfer record was broken between two English clubs when Manchester City sent £100m (in instalments, of course) down a secure internet line to Aston Villa's bank account for the services of Jack Grealish.
This time last year it seemed as if it might have been wasted money. Grealish struggled in his first season at the Etihad Stadium and, by the end of the Premier League campaign was flitting in and out of Pep Guardiola's starting line-up. He could not match his goal tally of seven which he recorded in his final year at Villa while his assist total fell from 12 to four in a City shirt. It could be observed that Grealish was the fulcrum of Dean Smith's Villa team whereas at City he was a component part in a Formula One racing car and so was merely one member of an ensemble cast but there was, nevertheless, disappointment following his debut season at the club. It should also be noted that he felt much more at home this season during which his figures returned to something more akin to those which he had recorded at Villa Park. Grealish registered 16 goal contributions in 2022/23 which, while still short of his one goal or assist in every 2.84 games at Villa, was a marked improvement on his difficult first season.
Given that he made 50 appearances in City's Treble winning campaign, however, there is still the sense that the best is yet to come from the 27-year-old under Guardiola.
A slight downturn in performances is not usual when a player makes a big-money move and if he was overburdened by the £100m price tag it was not blindingly obvious. However, it did feel as if there was a form of catharsis to his rampant celebrations at the culmination of events in Istanbul when City lifted the Champions League a few weeks back. His explanation that it had been a long season held merit but you have to wonder if there was more to it than just blowing off steam at the end of a tough campaign.
Which brings us to Declan Rice, who will surpass Grealish as the most expensive transfer between English clubs when he completes his £100+5m move from West Ham United to Arsenal in the coming days.
Measuring Rice's progress will be harder to quantify than by mere number crunching. Understandably, since the England midfielder plays in a different position to Grealish. He is not being signed by Arsenal for his goals – of which he has scored just 15 in 214 appearances as a midfielder. Instead it is his league leading ability in other areas of the pitch that appeal to Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal manager. The 24-year-old had more interceptions than any other player in the Premier League in the season just ended, he was ninth for tackles won and 10th for passes completed. And that's before you mention what is regarded as one of his finest attributes – progressive carries – for which he is ranked in the top 12 per cent of players in Europe. With Rice, though, there is another less measurable but equally eye-catching trait that he possesses. It is something to do with his DNA and his ability to lead a team, cajoling and urging team-mates on to greater heights. It was all too obvious as he carried West Ham over the line to win the Europa Conference League last month.
It is a trait that Arteta's side sorely lacked as Arsenal's campaign petered out in a lame finish to the 22/23 season. There is unlikely to be such a repeat with Rice barking at those around him next season.
