Jack Grealish could leave Manchester City before the start of next season
Jack Grealish could leave Manchester City before the start of next season (Image: GETTY)
Jack Grealish appears to be facing an uncertain future after Manchester City opened the door to a potential summer move. The former Aston Villa playmaker has been reduced to a bit-part role at the Etihad Stadium, four years after joining in a club-record £100million deal. He only started seven games last season and looks set to be dealt another blow ahead of the upcoming Club World Cup.
Pep Guardiola is not planning to name Grealish in his travelling squad for the new-look tournament, according to The Telegraph. His exclusion could be the catalyst for a summer exit, with the 29-year-old eager to play regularly next season to aid his chances of playing for England at the World Cup. He will not be short of transfer options and it is said City could even green-light a loan move.
Express Sport takes a look at six potential destinations for Grealish this summer...
The winger is expected to be left out of City's squad for the Club World Cup
The winger is expected to be left out of City's squad for the Club World Cup (Image: GETTY)
Aston Villa
A romantic return to Villa Park might be just what Grealish needs to rediscover his best form. There is scope for Villa to sign a left winger after they decided not to pursue a permanent move for Marcus Rashford following the end of his loan spell.
Grealish could also play behind the striker, the position he excelled in during his first spell at the club, with Marco Asensio having returned to PSG. However, it remains to be seen if the fans will be prepared to welcome him back with open arms.
Arsenal
A potential move to north London has been touted for some time without ever coming to fruition. Grealish was heavily linked with the Gunners before moving to the Etihad Stadium but ultimately decided against linking up with Mikel Arteta.
Fast forward to now and Arsenal have been tipped to sign another wide player, with Raheem Sterling heading back to Chelsea. Grealish could be the man to fill that void but City might be reluctant to do business with their Premier League title rivals.
Grealish will have no shortage of potential suitors if he leaves the Etihad Stadium
Grealish will have no shortage of potential suitors if he leaves the Etihad Stadium (Image: GETTY)
Napoli
The newly-crowned Italian champions are among the bookies' favourites to sign Grealish and a move to Naples would be a safe bet. They have managed to get the very best out of Scott McTominay and could do the same in this scenario.
Grealish would have the opportunity to nail down a starting spot following Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's move to PSG. He boasts a similar profile to the Georgian winger and could be the perfect replacement if he can muster a long-awaited return to form.
AC Milan
Over the last few years, a number of English players have impressed at the San Siro after coming to a crossroads in the Premier League. The likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Fikayo Tomori and Tammy Abraham are just some of the bigger names on that list.
With the Italian giants expected to overhaul their attacking ranks after missing out on Europe, they might be tempted to gamble on a move for Grealish. A swap deal could even be an option, given that City are currently in talks to sign Tijjani Reijnders.
Fenerbahce
Sometimes the only thing a player needs to rejuvenate their form is to work under the right manager. Jose Mourinho is a totally different character to Guardiola and he might relish the challenge of helping Grealish to find his feet again.
A move to Turkey would also give him the platform to revive his career away from the spotlight of a top European league. On the flip side, it could damage his chances of earning a place in the England squad for next summer's World Cup.
Al-Hilal
There is always the possibility of a move to Saudi Arabia, where Grealish would be able to command a much bigger salary than in Europe. Out of all the clubs in the Gulf state, there are a couple of reasons why Al-Hilal might be the best fit.
There is space in their squad for another superstar following Neymar's mid-season exit, with Grealish among those who could fill that gap. He may also be tempted to reunite with a familiar face in Joao Cancelo, who joined the Saudi giants last year.