Jack Grealish's minimal role for Manchester City this season could lead to a move away from the Citizens for the £100million man as one club could prove attractive thanks to one player in particular
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Ollie Watkins of England celebrates with teammates Jack Grealish, Lewis Dunk, Levi Colwill and James Maddison after scoring the team's first goal during the international friendly match between England and Australia
Jack Grealish hasn't played for England since last year(Image: The FA via Getty Images)
Jack Grealish's WhatsApp group with James Maddison could be brought out of the archives after Tottenham Hotspur were linked with signing the Manchester City star. The 29-year-old has been a bit-part player for the Premier League champions this season, achieving a mere 605 minutes of action in what has been a disastrous defence of their league crown.
The likes of Savinho, Jeremy Doku, Phil Foden, and Bernardo Silva have been preferred by Pep Guardiola in the wide positions leaving Grealish out in the cold. The legendary boss may have been subject to a dig by the England star after their 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final win over Bournemouth on Sunday.
Despite being a regular starter in City's FA Cup campaign, Grealish was relegated to the bench but came on in the 69th minute in Foden's place in what was his first appearance since a brief cameo against Spurs on February 27.
Following the game, the winger took to Instagram and perhaps aimed a jibe at his lack of action on the pitch when posting: "Was nice to finally be back out there. Away support was incredible… Wembley next."
Despite a trophy-laden career in Manchester which has seen Grealish claim three league titles and a UEFA Champions League, he requires consistent football if he wants to fight his way back into Thomas Tuchel's England squad.
Grealish was a notable but deserved omission from the German's first international squad earlier this month and with the World Cup approaching next year, he could be seeking pastures new. One club that has been linked with signing the maverick player is Spurs.
It was a move that was reportedly heavily on the cards in the summer of 2018 after Aston Villa loss in the play-off final to Fulham. However, Grealish stayed with his boyhood club in the Championship and earned promotion to the Premier League the next season.
A move to the Lilywhites would see reunite with Maddison who he not only shares a close friendship with but are members of the same WhatsApp group called 'The Avengers'. Also featuring the likes of Dele Alli, Ben Chilwell, Ross Barkley, and John McGinn, the Spurs star revealed the existence of the chat in an interview with ex-Hull City star David Meyler.
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 04: Jack Grealish and James Maddison of England pose for a photo in the gym at Spurs Lodge on June 04, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
The England stars are close friends(Image: Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
"We have a little group chat called The Avengers," Maddison admitted. Grealish claimed that either himself or the ex-Leicester City midfielder are the biggest culprits of being on constant alert in the chat. "Me or Madders," he told UMM's Assumptions in 2021.
"On that point (Maddison) is on the group chat 24/7. Someone writes in it and then bam, he's ready straight away. Constantly in there. Then there's people like Chilly, he'd be online and he wouldn't read it."
Grealish - who reportedly earns £300,000 per week at City - could prove to be a difficult deal to complete for Spurs whose rigid wage structure would likely prevent such a transfer taking place.
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