Manchester City is opening the way for Jack Grealish to leave when he was no longer used under coach Pep Guardiola. However, his huge salary could be a problem for teams he is recruiting for.
Grealish was not even in the squad when Man City beat Fulham on the day of the Premier League's bottom half. This has further raised doubts about Grealish's future.
The England striker remains the Citizens' most expensive player ever after moving from Aston Villa in 2021. However, with major changes at the Etihad this summer, the 29-year-old seems to be no longer in the plan.
The Daily Star reported that Guardiola has no problem with Grealish, but after the talks between the two sides, it is clear that a fresh start elsewhere would be the most suitable.
Man City's board will want to recover a significant part of the £100 million spent to sign Grealish. They will almost certainly have to accept losses when a lending move is not ruled out. At that time, Man City had to pay Grealish a significant salary.
Grealish is keen to secure a move where he can play regularly, aiming to return to England before the 2026 World Cup starts. The 29-year-old player is no longer a key factor of the "Three Lions" in recent times due to his declining performance.
The former Aston Villa player has been a key factor in Man City's treble season. Despite scoring just five goals in that campaign, Grealish's influence was huge.
Guardiola is expected to sign a number of important contracts this summer. He just went through the first season without winning any trophies at the Etihad since his debut campaign. The new faces will limit Grealish's playing time, even though top stars such as Kevin De Bruyne have left.
" jack Grealish needs to play, either for us, or in another shirt. The final choice lies with Grealish, the agent and the team. If he stays, that's fine, he needs to continue fighting, regain the position he had when he first joined the team.
No one can say that I am not happy with Grealish. Because all my decisions do not come from personal motives. I was the one who tried every way to bring Grealish back, also determined to keep him. What happens in the future will be taken care of by Txiki Begiristain, Hugo Viana and Grealish's agent" - Guardiola said after the win over Fulham.
