The 25-year-old was Villa's marquee signing in the summer transfer window after they procured him for £9million from Wigan. His scintillating form for the Latics was one of the main reasons they escaped from the vines of relegation. Yet, he has failed to replicate those levels of excellence at Villa Park, but Grant insists the France international is central to their long-term plans. He told the club's official website: "You know what football's like, people talk about somebody moving every day. I think it was Benty last week, now it's Charles. I don't know who it will be next! "People are talking about players going here, there and everywhere. Sunderland must have a few bob left if they are going to try and buy Charles!" Outside of the elite group within the Premier League, Grant views Villa as the one of the best of the rest. Ashley Young's displays saw him earn a move to Manchester United in the close season, and according to Grant that is the only kind of club anyone leaving Villa should consider. "Listen, top players are always going to be linked with other clubs, but if players leave here they should only be going to top four clubs because there's not many clubs bigger than this one," he added. "In terms of the stadium, the history and the fans this is a big club and what we want to do is make it somewhere that everybody wants to come and play and that the boys here want to stay at." And Grant is convinced it's only a matter of time before the former Newcastle and Wigan dribbler starts leaving full-backs with twisted blood again following his output on the training ground. "We feel in the last few weeks that Charles is starting to get there," he continued. "The boys appreciate his talent because they see it on the training ground. That's why we're confident that there's a lot more to come from him."
