“It’s similar to me, I had chances to leave but, when the club means that much to you, the grass isn’t always greener.”
Agbonlahor added on the approach Villa needed to take with Grealish: “If I was the owner of Aston Villa at the moment, I’d just turn my phone off! If a player who’s so crucial to your team – like Jack is to Aston Villa – to get results, I’m not selling him.
“Selling a player of Jack’s calibre’s going to cost you much more in the long run. You may get a lot for him but you’ve got to stay in the Premier League no matter what, that’s where the money’s at.
“For me, I’m turning my phone off in the summer if I’m the Villa owner and, when the transfer window is over, I’d turn it back on so he can’t move.
“That’s what I’d do. Fingers crossed he stays. It’s down to him.”
Grealish has taken in 176 appearances for Villa to date, scoring 24 goals, and is looking to force his way into the senior England squad – be that in his current surroundings or with the assistance of securing a switch elsewhere.