Aston Villa European Cup winner Andy Gray is backing Jack Grealish to join Manchester United.

Gray would like to see Grealish stay at his former club but admits it may be time for the 24-year-old to play at a higher level than Villa.

And he says it would be similar to when Dwight Yorke left Villa in 1998 to join the Red Devils.

"For me I obviously hope Jack Grealish stays at Aston Villa but it's up to him, it really is up to him," Gray said on beIN SPORTS.

"Oh yeah, course he is [good enough for United], no-brainer at all.

"He would be a better player in a better team in my opinion because not so much will be expected of him.

"He won't go onto a football pitch every game like he does now and thinks: 'If I don't play, we're going to be struggling today'.

"He'll go in with other terrific players and not so much will be expected and I think that will make him a better player. I'm actually talking him out of Aston Villa, aren't I!

"Oh 100 per cent [I would wish him well if he moved].

"If Jack Grealish came up tomorrow and said 'I've done my bit this season, for the rest of my career I need to go and test myself at the highest level, I need to spend the next four or five years where I'll be at my peak, seeing how good a footballer I can really be', I would have absolutely no problem with that at all.

"It's a little bit like when Dwight Yorke left - been there 10 years, decided to move to Manchester United, no one begrudged Dwight that, certainly no proper supporters."