Jack Grealish once arrived at Manchester City as a £100m marquee signing. Nearly four seasons later, his place in the squad — and at the club — feels increasingly uncertain.
On Saturday, Pep Guardiola left Grealish on the bench again. Choosing James McAtee over him in a winger-less setup against Crystal Palace said a lot. Though not like-for-like, Grealish has played centrally this season and done reasonably well. Still, he’s had just two starts in the last 10 matches, five in the last 20, and despite decent performances, minutes have been hard to come by.
Even among City fans, Grealish remains divisive — a big name with an even bigger price tag. His critics see his limited game time as validation of their doubts. Supporters argue he hasn’t been given a fair run. Either way, his future at the Etihad looks more uncertain than ever.
Former City keeper Shay Given, a friend and ex-teammate, voiced his frustration after the Manchester derby:
“With De Bruyne potentially leaving, I’d love to see Jack given the chance to run the show in midfield. But it looks like he might be on his way out too. He plays a game or two and then disappears, no matter how well he does. It’s baffling.”
Grealish’s contribution to City’s Treble-winning season won’t be forgotten — but one standout campaign out of four isn’t enough when you’re measured against the likes of Kevin De Bruyne or Erling Haaland, who cost significantly less.
The £100m price tag, triggered via a release clause at Aston Villa, was meant to benefit his boyhood club. But now, as City weigh up his future, they’re unlikely to recoup anything close to that fee. With five of the six amortised payments nearly settled, his current book value is closer to £33m — Transfermarkt lists him around £30m.
Wages may be the bigger sticking point. Grealish earns as you’d expect a £100m man to earn — but any buying club likely won’t match those terms unless compromises are made.
The other option? He stays, fights for his place, and proves he’s still got more to offer. If he does move on, City may have to accept a financial loss — but on the pitch, it could help reset expectations.
Sometimes, letting go of the price tag is the only way forward.
