Dean Smith identifies Henri Lansbury to replace Jack Grealish at Aston Villa

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Aston Villa are currently on a run of four consecutive wins which has seen them rise into the top-six of the Championship.

Victories over Derby County, Birmingham City, Nottingham Forest, and Middlesbrough have now put Villa among contention for promotion.

Whether or not the Villans reach the Premier League will probably determine what sort of business they do in the summer transfer window.

Jack Grealish is a player who could leave Villa Park regardless of how the remainder of this campaign pans out.

The 23-year-old has been in stunning form since returning from injury and will have Premier League suitors this summer.

Who comes forward remains to be seen, but it does look inevitable that his days at Villa Park are numbered.

Fear not Villa fans, Dean Smith has already identified a replacement should Grealish depart.

Henri Lansbury has barely kicked a ball this season but the Villans boss believes he can be the man to replace Grealish, should he depart, according to the Birmingham Mail.

This news is unlikely to appease the Villa faithful, and why would it?

According to BBC Sport, Lansbury cost £2.75 million when he joined the club in 2017.

His staggering £40k-a-week wages (Silly Season) also caught the attention of the club’s supporters.

Despite over two years at the club, Lansbury has featured just 33 times for Villa, scoring twice.

Making Lansbury heir to the throne vacated by Grealish will be vastly underwhelming.

The 28-year-old has hardly set the division alight when he has put on a Villa shirt – when he has been fit that is.

Injuries have blighted his progress and it would represent a real concern for supporters if Smith does trust Lansbury to replace Grealish.

Due to the midfielder’s injury troubles, offloading him seems unlikely. Finding a club prepared to pay his wages when he hasn’t been fit for a year will prove impossible.

As a result that might mean a Villa Park opportunity is forthcoming.

However, to call him Grealish’s replacement would be wrong and extremely underwhelming.