It has not been the season Jack Grealish was hoping for.
The winger is now into his fourth campaign at the Etihad Stadium, after completing a £100 million move to Manchester City from Aston Villa.
Jack Grealish has always been under the microscope following that mega-money move, and unfortunately, he has not really lived up to expectations.
He had a brilliant campaign in 2022/23 when Manchester City won an historic Treble.
But he’s since struggled to perform to those kinds of levels, and he now finds himself behind several players in the pecking order.
The likes of Jeremy Doku are preferred in the wide areas these days, and there are also the likes of Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva who can play there, as can Oscar Bobb, who is now back from injury, and new signing Omar Marmoush.
More Man City News
Grealish wasn’t called up to the latest England squad by new manager Thomas Tuchel and as a result, the player recently headed out to Dubai – but he’s been doing something that will please Pep Guardiola.
Jack Grealish has been working with personal trainer in Dubai after England snub
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Grealish is hoping to get back into the England set-up under Tuchel, having shown signs he can make an impact after playing a few times under interim manager Lee Carsley.
Grealish has been open with his frustrations over Gareth Southgate’s decision to snub him for Euro 2024, and the City star would love to get back in.
But Thomas Tuchel said after overlooking him for his first squad (via Independent): “He simply has no rhythm and he himself – and I agree 100 percent with this – said ‘listen, Thomas, I’m not a start-stop player – it is so hard for me to influence a match from the bench and then be on the bench again, and then two weeks later I start again’.
“I’m not judging anyone, not at all, but it’s just a characteristic of Jack. He gets better with every minutes. The more he plays, the better he gets and then he becomes a proper machine.”
Grealish’s lack of minutes at City boils down to Guardiola preferring other players right now.
Sadly, he just hasn’t made the most of the opportunities given to him.
That said, Grealish is looking to get back on track. He’s been criticised after being pictured out in town and again for going to Dubai. But The Telegraph has reported that Grealish has actually been out there working with a personal trainer.
He wants to ensure he returns to City in the best condition, ready to try and raise his game in the final weeks of the season, in news that will surely be welcomed by Guardiola.
Dubai is a place Grealish enjoys, and in the summer of 2023 after City had won the Treble, Grealish was out there working with a trainer.
Will Jack Grealish leave Man City this summer?
It is impossible to see how City would not consider the possibility of moving Grealish on this summer.
The winger has been nowhere near his best this season and now has so much competition to get regular minutes.
He’ll have two years left on his contract this summer and is 29 years old. Pretty much, this would be a good time for City to sell before his value really starts to plummet.
Jack Grealish for Man City in 2024/25
Appearances – 26
Minutes played – 1319
Goals – 2
Assists – 5
Grealish is said to be on Newcastle United’s transfer radar (via Chronicle), with the player apparently open to a move.
Pundit Troy Deeney has suggested Grealish could’ve a good fit for Tottenham, who have also shown interest previously.
It would be great to see Grealish turn things around in the next couple of months. But it’ll be a tall order, and an exit does feel very possible.