It will be fascinating to see what becomes of reported Newcastle United transfer target Jack Grealish this summer.
Grealish has struggled for game time during an unusually poor season for Manchester City, sparking links with a move to Newcastle United.
Newcastle could sign Grealish for as little as £38million but the deal isn’t that simple. Even before considering whether he fits Eddie Howe’s system, there are some huge wages to take into account.
Bruno Guimaraes is Newcastle’s highest-paid player on a reported salary of £160k-per-week. Grealish, meanwhile, is reportedly on close to double that at the Etihad Stadium.
Still, Alan Shearer has told Grealish to leave Man City this summer. First team football has been difficult to come by for him since City won the treble in 2023.
Such is the player’s standing in the game, however, Newcastle are not the only club said to be in the race.
Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images
Manchester United could make shock move to sign Jack Grealish
According to Miguel Delaney of The Independent, there is a “rumour floating around” suggesting that all of the parties involved would be interested in a deal to take Grealish to Manchester United.
That would have to be seen as a major shock. One of City’s treble winners joining their biggest rivals would be strange, particularly as a player hasn’t crossed the Manchester divide since Owen Hargreaves in 2011.
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It seems Grealish really is indeed on the market if there are whispers he could make such a controversial move.
Writing in Reading The Game newsletter, Delaney said: “One rumour is floating around that all parties [including Manchester United] may be interested in a deal for Manchester City’s Jack Grealish.”
Season Games Goals Assists
2021-22 39 6 4
2022-23 50 5 11
2023-24 36 3 3
2024-25 32 3 5
Jack Grealish’s season-by-season stats for Manchester City
Jack Grealish transfer news a major story for Newcastle United fans
Grealish could leave Man City on loan this summer, which may make a deal easier for Newcastle at least on paper.
Whatever decision the club make on Grealish will be interesting for Newcastle fans. Should they move for him, it would perhaps indicate a change in approach from what PIF have done over the last few years.
Generally, the Newcastle United owners have tended to focus on signing younger players. If they don’t follow up their reported interest in Grealish, then perhaps it’s clear they will continue deploying that kind of transfer strategy.