Revealed: Major hurdle Man City must overcome to offload Jack Grealish this summer as Pep Guardiola looks to push £100m signing out of Etihad
Manchester City face a significant obstacle in offloading Jack Grealish this summer due to his high wages, which deter potential suitors despite the club’s willingness to accept a reduced transfer fee. Signed for a record-breaking £100 million from Aston Villa in 2021, Grealish earns approximately £300,000 per week, a salary that clubs interested in a £38-43 million (€45-50 million) transfer are reluctant to match, per www.goal.com and www.caughtoffside.com.[](https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/revealed-major-hurdle-man-city-must-overcome-to-offload-jack-grealish-this-summer-pep-guardiola/bltbc9e8affff7ab244)[](https://sports.yahoo.com/article/exclusive-surprise-contender-emerge-sign-062100847.html)
Details of the Hurdle
City are open to selling Grealish, who has struggled with form and fitness, starting just seven Premier League games in the 2024/25 season and scoring one goal in 19 appearances, per www.espn.com and www.caughtoffside.com. Pep Guardiola’s preference for players like Savinho, who has outperformed Grealish on the left wing, has marginalized the 29-year-old, with omissions from key matches like the 2-0 win over Fulham and the FA Cup final signaling his expendability, per www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk and www.mirror.co.uk. However, Grealish’s £15 million annual salary poses a challenge, as clubs like Tottenham, Newcastle, Aston Villa, and Nottingham Forest—linked with the midfielder—are unlikely to pay both the transfer fee and his current wages without a significant pay cut, per www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk and sports.yahoo.com. Posts on X, such as @DeadlineDayLive, note Newcastle’s interest but highlight their need to break their wage structure, per @DeadlineDayLive.
Guardiola’s Stance and Transfer Context
Guardiola has publicly challenged Grealish to regain his 2022/23 treble-winning form, stating, “I want the Jack that won the Treble… He has to fight with Savinho to deserve to play,” per www.footballtransfers.com. Despite defending his decision to retain Grealish previously, Guardiola’s recent squad exclusions and comments suggest a shift, with the manager noting, “What is going to happen will happen,” per www.teamtalk.com and @City_Xtra. City’s amortized transfer fee means Grealish’s book value is around £33 million, making a £40 million sale financially viable, but his wages remain the “major hurdle,” per www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk and www.goal.com. A loan move is considered more likely than a permanent transfer, though City prefer not to loan him to a top-five Premier League rival, per @O1iThomas.
Potential Destinations and Challenges
- Aston Villa: A return to Grealish’s boyhood club holds emotional appeal, but Villa fans’ mixed feelings and the club’s wage structure make it unlikely, per www.football365.com and theboyhotspur.com.
- Tottenham and Newcastle: Both see Grealish’s creativity as valuable, but his salary and Tottenham’s depth in wide positions complicate deals, per www.caughtoffside.com and @DeadlineDayLive.
- Nottingham Forest: A surprise contender, their interest hinges on securing Champions League football, but matching Grealish’s wages is a stretch, per sports.yahoo.com.
- Fenerbahçe: Speculation links Grealish to Jose Mourinho’s side, with agent Jorge Mendes facilitating talks, but his £15 million salary is a barrier, per @FFTVofficial.
- European Clubs: Benfica, AS Roma, Crystal Palace, and Ajax are suggested for playing time, but none can easily afford his wages, per www.footballtransfers.com.[](https://www.footballtransfers.com/en/transfer-news/uk-premier-league/2025/01/man-city-news-jack-grealish-pep-guardiola-transfer-options-scisports)
Connection to Other Sports Narratives
Grealish’s career crossroads mirror Emma Raducanu’s need to evolve post-2021, as warned by Mark Petchey, per www.express.co.uk, and Luke Littler’s resilience against Gerwyn Price’s challenge, per www.gbnews.com. Like Carlos Alcaraz’s praise for Richard Gasquet’s longevity, per @TennisActu, Grealish’s potential move reflects a quest to reclaim past brilliance, akin to Danielle Collins’ stand, per www.express.co.uk, and Coco Gauff’s focus, per www.hola.com.
Conclusion
Manchester City’s primary hurdle in offloading Jack Grealish is his £300,000-per-week salary, which discourages clubs despite a reduced £38-43 million transfer fee, per www.goal.com and www.caughtoffside.com. Guardiola’s shift away from Grealish, favoring Savinho and others, has fueled exit talks, with a loan more likely than a permanent move, per www.espn.com and @O1iThomas. Interested clubs like Aston Villa, Tottenham, Newcastle, and Fenerbahçe face wage challenges, per www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk and @FFTVofficial. Like Raducanu, Littler, Alcaraz, Collins, and Gauff, Grealish’s next move is a pivotal moment to redefine his career.
