Jack Grealish is seemingly set for the Manchester City exit door but the list of potential destinations means a deal will not be straightforward.
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Manchester City's Jack Grealish applauds the fans after the Premier League match between City and AFC Bournemouth
Jack Grealish faces an uncertain future at Manchester City
Jack Grealish's final Manchester City outing might well have been his late, late cameo against Bournemouth.
The 29-year-old came on in the dying moments of that victory in what was his 32nd City appearance of the season. But starts have been hard to come by this term and Grealish was jettisoned from the squad entirely for the final day trip to Fulham.
That felt like the final nail in the coffin of his City future, as it did for James McAtee, who was also left out and has struggled for regular minutes this term.
Pep Guardiola has seemingly made his mind up on both and in a week when he spoke about wanting a smaller squad for next season, it seems as though Grealish and McAtee have no place in it.
For Grealish, a player who Guardiola spent £100million on and who played an integral part in the treble winning season, it would be a limp end to his City career.
He is under contract at the Etihad until 2027 and his wages mean any exit this summer will not be an easy deal to do. Both club and player seem willing to move on but a permanent move is limited to a relatively small pool of clubs.
In the Premier League it's hard to see too many takers with perhaps Tottenham the likeliest destination given they need to strengthen and have the windfall of Champions League cash.
A return to Aston Villa can't be ruled out but that might be heart ruling head and with Villa now consigned to the Europa League, a permanent switch could be financially problematic.
A loan similar to the Marcus Rashford move to the Midlands from Manchester United would be more feasible but Grealish is a very different player to the players currently in the front line Unai Emery has assembled at Villa Park.
Newcastle United have been consistently linked in recent months but the Manchester Evening News understands the Magpies are not currently interested in pursuing a move for Grealish given the options they possess in his position and the wage demands.
A host of top flight sides would surely register an interest in Grealish if he was available for loan with part of his salary covered, with the likes of Nottingham Forest perhaps a viable option with European football on offer. Everton and West Ham could also be interested.
Further afield, Serie A sides have looked to the Premier League for talent in recent windows. AC Milan moved for Kyle Walker on loan in January while newly-crowned champions Napoli will look to strengthen their squad this summer. Inter Milan could even be tempted.
The Saudi Pro League is another possibility, with Grealish perhaps heartened by Ivan Toney's England recall on the back of his club form for Al-Ahli.
A switch could appeal to a player who is often in the headlines in his homeland, while the financial benefits to Grealish and City would be obvious. But there is yet to be any talk of any Saudi side exploring a move.
The next indicator will be Grealish's involvement, or lack thereof, in the Club World Cup, which gets under way in a few weeks.
Shine there and maybe clubs form a queue. But it's hard to see Guardiola being at the front of it.