Jack Grealish is set to leave Manchester City this summer, with the Premier League giants ready to take a £60million hit on the England international who has interest from domestic rivals
Richard Dunne believes Manchester City are prepared to offload Jack Grealish at a significant £60million loss because Pep Guardiola no longer “trusts” him. Grealish, 29, seems poised for an exit from the Etihad Stadium, four years after his record-breaking £100m transfer from Aston Villa.
He was omitted from the City squad for their final Premier League game against Fulham. While Pep Guardiola cited that was down to “selection” and having a close to fully-fit squad, the writing was once again on the wall when Grealish was not included in City’s squad for the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup.
Everton and Tottenham Hotspur have already been linked with a move for the midfielder, who has 39 international caps for England.
Reports from The Sun indicate that City are ready to let Grealish go for a mere £40m – a staggering £60m less than their initial investment. It has also been reported that he has been informed his time with City has come to an end.
Dunne, who played over 350 matches for City between 2000 and 2009, expressed his views on Grealish’s situation. While speaking on behalf of William Hill, Dunne told the Manchester Evening News: “He’s obviously not got a decent relationship with the manager. It doesn’t seem like the manager trusts him in what he’s doing, so whatever he’s doing at City, it’s not working.
“If he thinks that he’s given everything and he’s given 100% and he’s trying his best and he’s performing well and it’s still not happening for him, he needs to leave. I think that would be the first option for him, to leave, but he also then has to look and take responsibility for his own performances – not be looking that, ‘Pep didn’t just like me’ or anything like that.
“It’s about what the player’s doing himself and seeing when he won the treble how good a player he can be. He’s probably not reached those heights since, so if he gets an opportunity again at another big club somewhere else, it’s all down to him.”
In the midst of speculation surrounding Grealish’s future, City have also brought in Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Ait-Nouri, barely six months after signing Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis in the winter transfer window.
Given Guardiola’s stated desire to work with a smaller squad next season, Grealish is one of those who may need to make way, with hopes that his departure will also help balance the books.
His stint at City has seen him lift the Champions League, three Premier League titles, the FA Cup and the Club World Cup. However, with only 17 goals and 23 assists in 157 appearances for the club, many believe he hasn’t managed to maintain the same level of consistency and quality he demonstrated at Villa.
Dunne warned Grealish he must buckle down to rediscover his top form at his next club. He said: “It’s always down to the player’s attitude towards the game.
“The player’s attitude towards being ready every day, every week, which Pep has requested and isn’t getting. There’s certainly a really good footballer in Jack Grealish.
“Somebody will sign a very good player who can make a huge difference to most teams. He just needs to make sure he’s on it and he’s not living in the past. He needs to go forward almost and just become the player that he should be.”
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