Jack Grealish has been left out of Manchester City’s squad for their crucial final Premier League fixture against Fulham, casting serious doubt over his future at the Etihad Stadium.
City, who need just a point at Craven Cottage to secure a top-five finish and Champions League qualification, will be without the England midfielder. According to The Telegraph, manager Pep Guardiola has omitted Grealish from the matchday lineup — the strongest sign yet that the £100 million signing may be heading for the exit this summer.
Grealish, once the most expensive British player after his move from Aston Villa in 2021, has struggled to live up to expectations. Despite his contributions during City’s treble-winning season, he has managed only 40 goal involvements in 157 appearances. His form has also seen him fall out of favor with England boss Gareth Southgate, who left him out of the Euro 2024 squad in favor of younger talents like Eberechi Eze and Anthony Gordon.
Guardiola appears to have lost confidence in Grealish as well, benching him during City’s FA Cup final loss to Crystal Palace and instead opting to bring on teenage debutant Claudio Echeverri.
While talks with City’s board are expected soon, many within the club believe Grealish has already played his final match for the team and won’t feature in the upcoming Club World Cup. However, a move away may be complicated due to his £300,000-per-week salary and age.
There’s speculation that a transfer abroad is more likely, with Serie A champions Napoli emerging as the top candidates according to Betfair. The Italian side may be seeking a new left winger after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s move to PSG. Italy has become a promising destination for former Premier League players, as seen with Scott McTominay’s success at Napoli.
Other clubs linked to Grealish include AC Milan, Tottenham, and Nottingham Forest, though Newcastle United reportedly aren’t interested. There’s also a slim chance he could join Manchester United — a move that would make him the first player to switch between the Manchester clubs since Owen Hargreaves in 2011.
Football pundit Alan Shearer weighed in after the FA Cup final, stating, “His time is up at City. He needs to go. If Pep chose to bring on a debutant over him in a must-win game, it says everything. Grealish has no future at City.”
