Man City and Man United Prepare for Tough Summer with Key Players Up for Sale | OneFootball

Manchester’s Falling Stars: Rashford and Grealish Face Summer Reckoning

Old Promise, New Problems

Not so long ago, Manchester’s footballing giants were riding high. Erik ten Hag looked like the man to awaken Manchester United’s dormant force, delivering silverware and third place in the Premier League. “Champions League football was set to return to Old Trafford and there was reason for optimism.” The mood was buoyant, the belief restored.

Across the city, Manchester City were the very embodiment of dominance. Champions of England, kings of Europe, and set to conquer the world stage. Few doubted Pep Guardiola’s relentless machine. “Manchester City were sitting pretty as the kings of England and Europe, with the world crown soon set to follow.”

Now, that sheen has dulled.

City’s Crown Slipping

City are no longer untouchable. They “scraped qualification for the Champions League” and endured the embarrassment of “being knocked out of the Club World Cup by Al Hilal.” Pep’s project is evolving, but not without its pains. A rebuild is underway, and Jack Grealish, once a £100 million talisman, is no longer guaranteed his place.

His role in City’s treble was central. “Grealish played a vital role in City’s historical treble.” But the spark has faded, and City are “searching for a buyer.”

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United in Decline

At Old Trafford, the situation is worse. Last season’s 15th-place finish has pushed United into uncharted territory. “No European football to look forward and a mishmash of a squad that needs gutting.” The issues are deep and systemic, Amorim certainly has his work cut out.

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Marcus Rashford, a boyhood Red, now wants out. His “30-goal haul” just two seasons ago feels like a memory. United want “£40m” for him, a far cry from his perceived worth at his peak.

Market Movements Collide

Both players will draw attention in the window, but their high wages and inconsistent recent form complicate matters. “Moving them on isn’t going to be easy,” the original report from the Manchester Evening News rightly observes, “and the task will only be made tougher by a club on the other side of the city looking to sell a player who will undoubtedly be linked with the same clubs.”

Their situations may reflect broader instability within both clubs. Outgoings will be as defining as arrivals. “The summer transfer window represents a crucial time,” and the futures of Rashford and Grealish are symbolic of where Manchester’s giants now stand.

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As someone who’s grown up watching Rashford tear down flanks and Grealish weave through defenders, it’s shocking how quickly the conversation has shifted to offloading them. Just a couple of years ago, these were the faces of their respective clubs. Now, they’re seen as overpaid assets in need of shifting.

The Rashford situation stings. He was United’s hope, a local lad who bled for the badge. That he’s asked to leave says more about the chaos behind the scenes than his form. Grealish, for all his flair, never quite became indispensable at City, but few would’ve thought he’d be quietly pushed out like this.

Selling both isn’t just about wages or form, it’s about optics. City and United are supposed to be global giants, but selling once-pivotal stars for £40 million in this market feels like fire sale pricing.

And if they’re both going to the same shortlist of clubs, what happens if neither move? This saga could define how each club is viewed by players and agents this summer. Fail to manage this correctly, and the market will know something’s off.