Jack Grealish has been axed from Manchester City’s squad ahead of their final Premier League game of the season against Fulham on Sunday.
City travel to Craven Cottage needing a point to seal a place in the top five and qualify for next season’s Champions League.
But Grealish will play no part as The Telegraph report that Pep Guardiola has not included the England international in his matchday squad – the clearest indication yet that he will leave the Etihad this summer.
The attacking midfielder became the most expensive British footballer of all time when he joined City from Aston Villa for £100million in 2021.
But aside from an impressive showing during the club’s treble-winning campaign, the 29-year-old has made very little impact for the Citizens, recording just 40 goal contributions in 157 appearances.
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Once one of the Three Lions’ star players, Gareth Southgate left him out of England’s Euro 2024 squad, with the likes of Eberechi Eze, Morgan Gibbs-White, Morgan Rogers and Anthony Gordon now ahead in the pecking order.
Guardiola seems to have no faith in him either, keeping him on the bench during City’s FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace last weekend, instead bringing on teenage debutant Claudio Echeverri in an attempt to save the game.
The Telegraph add that Grealish will hold talks with City’s hierarchy very soon, but some at the club feel he has already played his last game in sky blue and will not feature at the upcoming Club World Cup.
However, securing a transfer away from Manchester, especially to another Premier League club, may prove difficult given the attacker’s age and £300,000-a-week wages.
As a result, Grealish has been tipped for a move abroad with Serie A champions Napoli the favourites to sign him according to Betfair.
Jack Grealish stats 2024/25
Appearances: 32
Starts: 16
Goals: 3
Assists: 5
Yellow cards: 5
Antonio Conte’s side could be in the market for a new left-sided attacker after selling Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to PSG in January and Italy has proven a great place for ex-Premier League stars to find another lease of life.
Grealish need only look at how Scott McTominay has blossomed since joining Napoli from Manchester United last summer, with the Scotland midfielder recently named Serie A MVP.
AC Milan are also one of the bookies favourites for his signature, as are Nottingham Forest and Tottenham, though The Athletic report that Newcastle United aren’t interested.
Jack Grealish next club odds
Napoli – 11/4
Nottingham Forest – 7/2
AC Milan – 13/2
Tottenham – 9/1
Newcastle – 10/1
Aston Villa – 10/1
Inter Milan – 12/1
Any Saudi Pro League club – 22/1
Man Utd – 25/1
Odds courtesy of Betfair
There is also an outside chance that City’s local rivals United could sign Grealish, which would make him the first player to cross the Manchester divide since Owen Hargreaves in 2011.
Wherever he may end up, Alan Shearer believes it is imperative that Grealish departs the Etihad as soon as possible, saying after the FA Cup final: ‘His time is up at Man City. He has to leave.
‘For Pep Guardiola to bring on a debutant, a young boy, and [Ilkay] Gundogan rather than Jack Grealish when Man City are desperate for a goal… his time is up.
‘He’s done at Man City, he has to leave. For whatever reason Pep is done with him, he doesn’t like him. His time is up, it really is.’
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