Manchester United have been urged to sign Jack Grealish in the summer transfer window while being told he could be like a new Eric Cantona for the club.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is eager to continue his rebuild of the club by signing young, homegrown players with potential - and Grealish fits the bill - although MEN Sport understand Leicester star James Maddison remains their priority transfer target.
Grealish has enjoyed a fine start to the season contributing eight goals and six assists while captaining his boyhood club on their return to the top-flight of English football.
Former Cardiff manager Neil Warnock admits he 'loves' the 24-year-old and thinks a move to Old Trafford should be considered if Villa were to go down.
Not only that, but the veteran manager believes Grealish possesses similar traits to those of United legend Cantona.
"I do love him!," Warnock told talkSPORT.
"I do think he's a horrible little so-and-so, because you just know if someone breathes on him, he's going down. But his ability is fantastic and he has got better.
"But his ability is fantastic. He has got better. You talk about Manchester United again… if Villa go down I think he’s quite good enough to be a Man United player.
"With the right two players behind him, the quality behind him… Maddison is the more complete player of the two regarding box-to-box, I think Jack just gives you that little bit more special magic in that final third.
"That’s what I say about Manchester United, he’s that kind of player you know like a Cantona played for Man United, I think he’ll strut his business.
"‘He goes past you, he’s got all the tricks in the trade. And he sees a pass as well, you know, he can play it simple."
Speaking earlier in the month Villa manager Dean Smith warned sides interested in signing Grealish that they can look but can't touch amid the growing speculation.
"I think he’s a big target for many teams and you can see why," he said.
"He’s having his record season goal scoring season, he’s a top player and I’ve waxed lyrical about him very often but as I’ve said before, our owners are very ambitious about establishing us as a top Premier League football club and to do that you have to keep your best players.
"We will be keeping hold of Jack Grealish and people can keep looking, but they can’t touch."
