Aston Villa manager Dean Smith has definitely seen his side's promotion challenge affected by the loss of winger Jack Grealish, after a run of inconsistent form coincided with Grealish's absence due to injury.

Grealish has previously been a transfer target of Tottenham Hotspur so Smith will surely be braced for likely interest in the summer whether Villa get promotion or not.

So with him being such a key member of the squad, would Villa’s team fall apart if Grealish left in the summer?

We discuss.....

Alfie Burns

“I’m not sure they’d fall apart, but he’d take some serious replacing.

“We’ve seen what impact he has on the side, particularly when he was absent from it.

“Smith would have his work cut out replacing that quality.”

Louie Chandler

"I don't think so.

"If Dean Smith has an entire summer to build his squad then I am sure that he would be able to deal with Grealish's departure.

"It would be a huge blow but it would not be the end of the world."

[ad_pod ]

Jacob Potter

"I don’t think they’d be in as much trouble as we think they would.

"Yes, Grealish is an excellent player but there are players in this Villa squad that can step up when needed.

"Plus, Villa would be able to reinvest the money they get from Grealish into some more attacking talent."

Gary Hutchinson

“No, of course not.

“The £25m would go some way to ensuring they stuck together.

“I like the idea of him going and giving the squad a fresh feel.

“It might be better in the long run.”

Jay Taylor

“It'd be a massive blow.

“Kortney Hause said he is the glue holding the dressing room together – when the glue goes, things fall apart.

“It’s been seen in their form without him – it’s been poor – so if he was gone altogether, I think they would really struggle.”