Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has heaped praise on his former club and Jack Grealish, claiming he 'would love to manage him' and thinks he's the closest thing to Paul Gascoigne. England star Grealish has been the centre of big-money transfer rumours this summer after a stunning season with Aston Villa. Speaking to The Times, Rooney said: "Jack Grealish is the closest thing I've seen to Gazza on a football pitch. He has a lot to do to reach Gazza’s levels but his style of play, the way he takes the ball and runs with it in a way that is so awkward to play against, his sheer confidence on the field – it all reminds me of the legend I watched at Everton, and then trained with when I joined their first-team squad. "For England, I think Harry Kane is the most important player but Grealish is the one who is going to light up the tournament. He has to play. Just like Gazza, his style is suited to the international game, where moments of inspiration often make the difference. If you’re looking for someone to open a team up with a bit of magic then Grealish is the one who can do it for Gareth Southgate’s side. "He attracts defenders, draws fouls and wins free kicks in dangerous areas. He creates chances and scores goals too. Foden is a top player, a footballer who – as you see at Manchester City – will link play up, pass and move and can dribble too. But it’s Grealish who commits defenders more, dragging them out of position, which will create space for other players." Rooney is currently the manager of Championship outfit Derby, steering them away from relegation on the final day of the season. "I’d love to manage Grealish and if I did, I’d encourage him to express himself, to not be afraid of mistakes or giving the ball away, especially in the final third. I’d also loved to have played with Jack. I was a player who studied defenders and when Jack takes the ball and draws them out of position, I would have been looking to exploit the spaces they left."
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