BT Sport pundit Rio Ferdinand believes Chelsea and Liverpool should be fighting Manchester City to sign Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish this summer.

The ex-Manchester-United defender says that while his former club have too many options in forward areas to seriously consider going after Grealish, there is nothing to stop City’s other title rivals from getting involved:

“Does he improve every team in the Premier League? Yes he does, end of argument. He improves every team. If I’m Liverpool, I’m going to get him. If I’m Man City, I’m taking him. Because he improves them. He improves Chelsea, 100%. Whoever’s got the money to pay for him, do it. If Liverpool bought him it would be a bolt out of the blue. He improves them and then it’s like, ‘wow’.”

While Ferdinand is right to emphasise that Grealish is a top talent who any team should be looking to sign, it is fair to say the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool have other priorities.

Thomas Tuchel’s side, for example, are expected to devote almost their entire transfer budget to signing a new number nine. When it comes to the Reds, they don’t have the financial resources to spend £100m on one player, and they are likely to be focusing on snapping up a Georginio Wijnaldum replacement.

It means that, despite Ferdinand’s remarks, City should have a clear run to sign Grealish before the transfer window closes next month.