Grealish, The Next to Leave City? The Costly Signing Who Could Exit Through the Back Door

Manchester City finds itself in a dilemma with one of its most expensive signings: Jack Grealish. The player, who once arrived at the club for an astronomical sum, could be living his final days under Pep Guardiola. His time with the 'Citizens' has been marked by performances well below expectations, and now, with only 47 minutes played this season, all signs point to his time in Manchester coming to an end. The signals of his imminent departure have become clearer than ever. Following the surprising exit of Kevin De Bruyne as a free agent, the club seems willing to let Grealish go for even less than what they paid for him, just to lighten the squad and its costs. This decision reflects the coaching staff's disappointment with the player's performance, as he has been relegated to a secondary role on the team.

In this context, another club has already shown interest: Tottenham. After the painful loss of James Maddison, the London club sees an opportunity in Grealish to strengthen their attack and fill the void left by their former star. Although the transfer would not be cheap, Tottenham is ready to make an offer, knowing that City might be more than willing to negotiate.

Grealish's case seems to follow a similar pattern to De Bruyne's, where high-profile players end up leaving the club unexpectedly. The 'Sky Blues' appear to be in a phase of restructuring, and in this process, Jack Grealish could become one of the most notable departures of this transfer window.

The Confirmation of an Inevitable Departure

The outlook for Jack Grealish at Manchester City is growing grimmer. A clear example of his current status with the team is that he was not even considered by Pep Guardiola for the Club World Cup, where Manchester City was eliminated in the round of 16 by Al Hilal. This decision was an unequivocal sign that the player is no longer in the coach's plans.

Grealish's departure is shaping up to be a certainty, although a strong candidate to sign him is still needed. However, Tottenham has emerged as the most interested club, especially after the injury to their star player James Maddison, which left a void in their attacking midfield.

This outcome is a complete reversal in Grealish's career. In August 2021, Manchester City paid the exorbitant sum of 117 million euros to Aston Villa for his transfer. At the time, Grealish, then 25, was coming off seasons with a very high performance level playing on the left wing and occasionally in the center, which justified the massive investment. Now, his exit through the back door is a reminder that in elite football, the past does not guarantee the future.