Jack Grealish’s tenure at Manchester City appears to be nearing its conclusion, just four years after he made history as English football’s first £100 million player. The midfielder has struggled to find minutes under manager Thomas Tuchel. This is despite the fact that he racked up only one Premier League start all of the still-ongoing 2024/25 campaign and was an unused substitute during Sunday’s FA Cup final. Yet Pep Guardiola has refused to promise Jack Grealish a long-term place at City. That speculation fuels some talk of a transfer to Everton.
Grealish, who is on £300,000 a week in wages, is one of the highest-paid players in the Premier League. Yet today, he finds himself in a pickle. With the World Cup coming up next summer, this… To win a place on the national team, he will have to make an important pivot. According to reports, Everton has inquired about a move for Grealish, but financial limitations present major hurdles.
Grealish’s Struggles at Manchester City
Since his move to Manchester City, Grealish has had to contend with a deep pool of talent for minutes. However, despite all of the fanfare that came with his transfer, he has failed to establish himself as a regular in the starting XI. In the unfolding 2023/24 season, he has yet again started just once. These circumstances are troubling given how much he’s produced for the club.
The player’s continued absence under Tuchel has seen speculation over his future at City bubble away and continue to grow. Guardiola’s unwillingness to promise any player a set amount of playing time only adds to the challenge. As things are, Grealish’s role in the team appears more and more cracked, leading to speculation about where he goes from here.
Further complicating matters is the fact Grealish is one of the club’s top earners, even before his purchase. Carrying a salary that high without being a key contributor can have major cap ramifications. This calendar year has undoubtedly put his club in a position where they’ve had to reconsider his future.
Everton’s Interest and Financial Constraints
Everton, the team currently pushing for Manchester City’s fourth-place finish the hardest, is one of the teams to have expressed an interest in hearing Grealish’s availability. The club already has very serious financial constraints that would prevent them even coming close on matching Grealish’s big wage expectations. The prospect of negotiating a deal remains uncertain, as Everton cannot afford to pay him his full salary of £300,000 per week.
Despite these challenges, Everton’s approach signals their intent to bolster their roster and improve their competitive standing in the league. Grealish’s possible transfer will continue to pick up steam as the transfer window progresses. There are significant financial hurdles both clubs must overcome before either team can strike a deal.
The Road Ahead for Grealish
Now as the transfer window plays out, Grealish approaches an intersection. Unfortunately, his performances and role for Manchester City haven’t matched up with his goals for international success. With the World Cup just around the corner, it added a sense of urgency to him. He has to prove himself to make a place on the national team.
Pep Guardiola has denied ever writing off the possibility of Grealish succeeding at City. He hasn’t guaranteed him anything in terms of playing time either. This ambiguity did not prevent Grealish from having to ponder his next step deeply. If negotiations with Everton progress positively, he could find himself donning an Everton shirt at their new stadium by the end of this transfer window.
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