Manchester City could use Jack Grealish as ‘bargaining chip’ in pursuit of new right-back | OneFootball

Newcastle United and Manchester City could be set to work on the possibility of a player-plus-cash deal for one of the former’s prominent names in defence this summer.

It comes as the future of Jack Grealish was thrown into doubt over the course of the weekend after Manchester City’s £100 million man was left out of Pep Guardiola’s travelling squad at Fulham for the final contest of the 2024/25 campaign.

The City head coach was keen to snub any suggestion after the contest that Grealish’s omission was somehow linked to an imminent exit from the Etihad Stadium, issuing a feisty response to reporters during his post-match press conference.

“Who said I’m not happy with him? I said in my words I’m not happy with him?!”, Guardiola told one journalist. “It’s not anything personal, absolutely ANYTHING! I’m the person who fought for him to come here.

“And I fought for him to stay here this season and the previous season – the ONE. The ONE who said, ‘I want Jack with me!’ Yes or yes. So now he didn’t come because he didn’t come, not for anything else.”

But behind-the-scenes, there appears to be a slightly different story as Manchester City officials get to work on the next phase of Guardiola’s playing squad, as one possible route for Jack Grealish emerges as a direct result of a transfer target for elsewhere in the squad.

According to the information of Manchester City insider ‘Tolmie’s Hairdoo’ on X, members in Jack Grealish’s camp have recently claimed a supposed interest from Newcastle United in the England international forward.

It is highlighted that with City wanting Tino Livramento this summer, Grealish may prove to be a potential bargaining chip in any negotiation with the North-East club, although they still expected Newcastle to demand £40 million plus the forward for the right-back.

That demand is said to be due to the top-level wages that would come for the St James’ Park side in the event of bringing Jack Grealish to the club.

Tino Livramento is one of a number of Manchester City transfer targets this summer, particularly in the full-back positions as Etihad bosses look to sign a new face for both the left and right-sided roles.

On the opposite flank, there is believed to be long-standing admiration and interest in Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Rayan Ait-Nouri, while Juventus’ Andrea Cambiaso emerged as a name of interest during the January market.

Further forward and the midfield roles will likely attract most attention among supporters, as a direct replacement for Kevin De Bruyne is no doubt required alongside some versatility and energy for the more traditional central ranks.