**Newcastle United and Manchester City could be set to work on the possibility of a player-plus-cash deal for one of the former’s prominent names in defence this summer.**
It comes as the future of Jack Grealish was thrown into doubt over the course of the weekend after Manchester City’s £100 million man was left out of Pep Guardiola’s travelling squad at Fulham for the final contest of the 2024/25 campaign.
The City head coach was keen to snub any suggestion after the contest that Grealish’s omission was somehow linked to an imminent exit from the Etihad Stadium, issuing a feisty response to reporters during his post-match press conference.
“Who said I’m not happy with him? I said in my words I’m not happy with him?!”, Guardiola told one journalist. “It’s not anything personal, absolutely ANYTHING! I’m the person who fought for him to come here.
“And I fought for him to stay here this season and the previous season – the ONE. The ONE who said, ‘I want Jack with me!’ Yes or yes. So now he didn’t come because he didn’t come, not for anything else.”
But behind-the-scenes, there appears to be a slightly different story as Manchester City officials get to work on the next phase of Guardiola’s playing squad, as one possible route for Jack Grealish emerges as a direct result of a transfer target for elsewhere in the squad.
According to the [information of Manchester City insider ‘Tolmie’s Hairdoo’ on X](https://x.com/RealTolmie/status/1925955474039492678), members in Jack Grealish’s camp have recently claimed a supposed interest from Newcastle United in the England international forward.
It is highlighted that with City wanting Tino Livramento this summer, Grealish may prove to be a potential bargaining chip in any negotiation with the North-East club, although they still expected Newcastle to demand £40 million plus the forward for the right-back.
That demand is said to be due to the top-level wages that would come for the St James’ Park side in the event of bringing Jack Grealish to the club.
Tino Livramento is one of a number of Manchester City transfer targets this summer, particularly in the full-back positions as Etihad bosses look to sign a new face for both the left and right-sided roles.
On the opposite flank, there is believed to be long-standing admiration and interest in Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Rayan Ait-Nouri, while Juventus’ Andrea Cambiaso emerged as a name of interest during the January market.
Further forward and the midfield roles will likely attract most attention among supporters, as a direct replacement for Kevin De Bruyne is no doubt required alongside some versatility and energy for the more traditional central ranks.