Football Insider pundit Frank McAvennie has had his say on Manchester City’s interest in Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish.

The Lowdown: City planning huge Grealish bid

A Manchester City source has recently informed Football Insider on the Premier League champions’ latest stance regarding the 25-year-old. Pep Guardiola’s side hold a strong interest in Grealish and are still plotting a huge bid at the end of the season.

Reports earlier this year have suggested that the playmaker is excited about the possibility of moving to the Etihad Stadium and has informed his friends that he would be interested in a move to the blue side of Manchester.

The Latest: McAvennie shares his thoughts

Talking to Football Insider, McAvennie feels that Villa have a 'problem' when it comes to the attacking midfielder and compared it to Harry Kane’s situation at Tottenham. The 61-year-old said:

“That’s the biggest problem for Villa.

“They have to keep Grealish. It’s the same with Harry Kane at Spurs but Grealish hasn’t come out and said anything.

“Villa were challenging now they have gone the other way. John McGinn and Barkley were flying.

“Something happened but if Villa can’t challenge, Grealish won’t stay. They have to prove to him that they can get Europe next year.”

The Verdict: Could Villa’s blushes be spared?

Manchester City are aware of the release clause in Grealish’s contract, but in our opinion, their interest in Harry Kane could be crucial.

Sergio Aguero will leave the Premier League champions over the coming weeks, and following the developments with Kane, it seems as if City are keen on signing the England captain. Should a big-money deal go through, a huge move for Grealish could be put on the backburner due to the finances involved.

However, the Villa captain may want to play in Europe's elite club competitions at some point in his career, so it is down to his club to try and convince him that he can do that at Villa Park in the future.

In other news: Villa plotting bid for Celtic ace, many AVFC fans torn - find out more here