Manchester City are reportedly ready to part ways with attacker Jack Grealish in the summer transfer window.
The 29-year-old joined the Citizens from boyhood club Aston Villa in August 2021 for £100m – both a club record and then British transfer record fee.
Grealish has since played 151 times for Man City in all competitions and has won seven trophies, including three Premier League titles and one Champions League.
The England international was a key cog in the Citizens’ machine that won a historic treble in 2022-23, but he has since struggled with a few injuries and when available has failed to make a meaningful impact in games.
Grealish scored for the first time in over a year in City’s 8-0 thrashing of Salford City in the FA Cup in January, and that is one of only two goals that the left-sided attacker has netted in 26 appearances this season.
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Man City ready to sell Grealish if reduced asking price is met
Grealish watched on as an unused substitute as Man City suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest in the Premier League last weekend, and he seems to have now fallen down the pecking order under Pep Guardiola.
Man City’s No.10, who has not started a Premier League game since December 21, still has over two years remaining on his contract, but his long-term future at the Etihad Stadium is believed to be uncertain.
According to Football Insider, Grealish is unhappy with his current role at Man City, who will accept offers for the attacker in the summer if their ‘reduced’ asking price is met.
Man City’s asking price for Grealish remains unknown at present, but it is thought that the value would be significantly below the £100m that they forked out almost four years ago.
Grealish’s private life has recently been in the headlines – not for the first time – as he was pictured on a night out for the second time in a few weeks following Man City’s FA Cup win over Plymouth Argyle.
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Guardiola will judge Grealish ‘on the pitch’
Guardiola has insisted that Grealish will no be judged by what he gets up to away from football and refused to be drawn on questions put to him last week over the attacker’s future beyond this season.
“They know what they have to do,” Guardiola told reporters. “A day off is a day off, there is no training. They have private lives to do whatever they want. I’m not going to control what they do in their private life.
“I judge what I see on the pitch, the training sessions and the performances in the game. That’s where I judge the players.
“I want Jack at his best, of course, but he’s had setbacks and didn’t play. That was sometimes for the injuries, he could not get the rhythm that you need for being ready every three days.
“Jack played really good the last game and hopefully he can have the consistency. It’s so good to have a dream to play in the World Cup and the [Euros] with his national team. I would be concerned if it was otherwise.”
Grealish, who has been linked with a potential return to Aston Villa, could be in contention to feature in Man City’s next Premier League game at home to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
