Manchester City are reportedly being tipped to pursue a £90m Premier League swap deal involving Jack Grealish to secure an upgrade for the underperforming winger. The 29-year-old, who joined City from Aston Villa for a British record £100m in 2021, has struggled for form and minutes, starting just seven Premier League games last season and being omitted from the Club World Cup squad. With his £300,000 weekly wage and two years left on his contract, a departure seems imminent, and a swap deal has emerged as a potential solution.
Speculation centers on Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers as the upgrade, with former Villa scout Bryan King suggesting City could target the 22-year-old forward in a part-exchange. Villa value Rogers at around £90m, while City’s valuation of Grealish hovers near £40m, meaning City would need to add a substantial cash sum to make the deal viable. King noted, “If they want a player involved in that deal and if that player is Morgan Rogers, then that would also make it a little bit difficult because you don’t want to lose your best player.” Rogers’ versatility and impact this season—five goals and three assists in 28 appearances—make him an attractive option for Pep Guardiola, who has prioritized competition in the forward line with signings like Rayan Cherki.
Other clubs, including Newcastle, Tottenham, and Everton, have shown interest in Grealish, with loan moves also considered due to his high wage. However, the Villa swap stands out as a strategic move, leveraging Grealish’s past with his boyhood club to facilitate negotiations. Guardiola’s recent comments about Grealish needing regular play “with us or another place” align with this shift, though Villa’s wage constraints and focus on reducing their 91% wage-to-revenue ratio could complicate matters. As of 11:27 AM WAT on July 25, 2025, this potential deal remains speculative, but it could reshape City’s squad and Grealish’s career trajectory if finalized.
