A Telegraph journalist has given hope to West Ham’s Jack Grealish dream in a major new update on his Man City future.
West Ham and Manchester City are facing important rebuilds this summer.
There are few clubs that have underachieved as much as the Hammers and Man City in terms of expectation vs reality this season.
Both Graham Potter and Pep Guardiola have stated they want to reduce the size of their West Ham and Man City squads.
In terms of quality, Man City’s squad is clearly on another level to West Ham’s.
The managers have stated they feel their bloated squads are counter-productive and make it difficult to foster a team spirit and competitive environment.
West Ham must replace Paqueta and Kudus with limited funds
West Ham have started clearing the decks with the release of six players with sales to follow to raise funds for signings.
Man City have said goodbye to Kevin De Bruyne and several others, including Jack Grealish, are tipped to leave the Etihad too.
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PSR is a major issue for the Hammers this summer with spending restricted to whatever the club can raise through sales.
Yet somehow the Irons must replace the likes of Mohammed Kudus and former Man City target Lucas Paqueta.
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Brazilian magnifico Paqueta has said goodbye to West Ham as he will be departing this summer one way or another.
The spot-fixing case which collapsed his £85m move to Man City will be concluded in the coming weeks.
If found guilty he will likely be banned for life, if cleared he will be sold by the Hammers.
Whether Man City remain interested in that scenario remains to be seen.
But for a long time now, those in West Ham circles have seen Grealish as the ideal replacement.
The England playmaker has barely featured for Man City this season and was left out of Guardiola’s squad altogether for the season finale against Fulham.
Journalist gives West Ham’s Grealish dream life in Man City update
West Ham have been big spenders over the last four years and would almost certainly have been in the market for a player like Grealish during that time.
If Paqueta was cleared and Manchester City still wanted the 27-year-old then he could potentially be used as a makeweight in a deal.
But that appears unlikely, so a lack of funds in east London would prove restrictive to signing Grealish.
Until now.
Because a top Telegraph journalist has given hope to West Ham’s Grealish dream in a major new Man City update.
Matt Law has revealed that Guardiola has left the door open for Grealish to leave Manchester City this summer.
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
And in news that will be music to West Ham’s ears, Law says a loan move is currently believed to be more likely than permanent deal.
This is potentially huge for the Hammers on many fronts.
Not only does it suddenly make a deal more affordable – especially with the Hammers having already cleared £600k off their weekly salary outgoings.
But Man City would clearly be reluctant to loan Grealish to any of their close competitors who could be rivals for league position.
Given how fiercely competitive the Premier League has become, that rules out around eight or nine clubs.
Loan deal and being a guaranteed starter gives Hammers hope of Grealish
And that may well put West Ham, not currently a direct rival for Man City, in the box seat.
Especially with the offer of London life, playing in front of 62,500 fans every other week and being the main man, starting week in, week out.
A lack of European football may be an issue for West Ham.
But there is almost no doubt Grealish will be on his way after Guardiola stated he needs to go somewhere to play regularly.
“It was a selection (decision),” Guardiola said.
“Of course, Jack has to play. He’s an unbelievable player that has to play football every three days. It didn’t happen this season and last season either. He needs to do it, with us or another place.
“It’s a question for Jack, his agent and the club.”
There are few clubs Man City would be willing to do business with where Grealish will be a guaranteed starter.
The fact a loan deal is his most likely exit route only further increases West Ham’s chances and hopes of landing a dream replacement for Paqueta and Kudus.