Jack Grealish is expected to be omitted from Manchester City’s squad for the upcoming Club World Cup, a move that strongly suggests his time at the Etihad Stadium may be coming to an end.
The English international joined City in 2021 for a then-British record fee of £100 million from Aston Villa. However, the attacking midfielder has fallen out of favour and is widely tipped for a summer departure.
Manager Pep Guardiola is initiating a squad rebuild. The club has already secured AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders in a £46.2 million deal and is also reportedly targeting Lyon winger Rayan Cherki and Wolves’ 23-year-old left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri.
With two years remaining on his £300,000-a-week contract, it appears Grealish requires a fresh start after becoming a bit-part player in the team.
Grealish, who will turn 30 in September, is exploring his options but is unlikely to be involved in City’s opening match in the USA against Wydad Casablanca on June 18.
He is anticipated to attract interest from clubs within the Premier League and across Europe.
Valued at £40 million, Grealish completed the full 90 minutes in only eight matches this season and is expected to follow Kevin De Bruyne in leaving the club.
His former club, Aston Villa, along with Newcastle, Everton, and Napoli – where De Bruyne is set to join on a free transfer – are all reported to be interested parties.
It is understood that City prefers Grealish to have ample time to secure a transfer to a new club rather than requiring him to travel with the squad to the United States.
Guardiola commented last month on Grealish’s situation, stating: “Of course, Jack has to play. He needs to do it — with us or another place.”
Pep aims to significantly change his squad, which finished third last season. Reijnders has already finalized a five-year agreement with the club.
City is reportedly eager to complete a £35 million deal for the talented France Under-21 player Cherki.
The manager is also understood to be confident of securing the signing of defender Ait-Nouri for £50 million.
City hopes to finalize these three potential transfers before the team departs for the States on June 12.
This active transfer period follows the club’s first season without lifting a trophy since 2017.
Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak acknowledged this recently, admitting: “Last summer we should have been more aggressive in some of the changes we needed. That ended up costing us this year.”
