Jack Grealish confides in friends as Manchester City exit becomes inevitable | OneFootball

Manchester City forward Jack Grealish has opened up to people in his close circle that he is open to leaving the club this summer amid widespread interest from the rest of the Premier League, as per a new report.

Grealish, 29, has endured another frustrating season in Manchester and with the former Aston Villa captain quite far down Thomas Tuchel’s pecking order for the England squad as things stand, there is an acceptance that something needs to change this summer.

The winger has two years remaining on his current deal at the Etihad Stadium and having justified the club-record £100 million investment made to secure his services in 2021 in just one of his four seasons in a sky blue jersey, Grealish is expected to leave the club.

City remain open to sanctioning a loan but would prefer a permanent sale as they look for a fee in the region of £40-50 million for the three-time Premier League winner, who earns in excess of £300,000-a-week at the Etihad Stadium.

Newcastle have been linked with a possible swoop for the Birmingham-born attacker when the transfer window reopens in mid-July, though the north-east outfit are understood to not be prioritising a move for the Manchester City man at present.

Tottenham are a potential destination following their return to the UEFA Champions League courtesy of a successful UEFA Europa League campaign that saw the north Londoners narrowly edge Manchester United in the final in Bilbao.

Manchester United and Liverpool are not interested in Grealish, who made seven starts in the recent Premier League campaign and has been told by Tuchel he needs to be playing regularly for his club to stake a claim in the England squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Grealish is also believed to be excited by the prospect of playing abroad and Bayer Leverkusen’s incoming manager Erik ten Hag is reported to have conveyed his desire of signing the Manchester City forward to the club’s hierarchy as the former Manchester United and Ajax coach prepares to take over at BayArena from July.

Football Insider are reporting that Grealish is preferring a potential move to Everton over Newcastle and the array of Saudi Pro League clubs that have registered an interest to sign him ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.

Grealish’s first preference remains staying in the Premier League and competing in the UEFA Champions League, with the Manchester City forward reportedly opening up to friends that he is excited by a possible move to Everton following their recent stadium move.

Regardless of the destination, Grealish has to be playing week-in, week-out to revitalise his international career and convince Tuchel to place a bet on him after two years wherein the England international has just not been playing enough minutes for Manchester City.

Guardiola has left the door open for Grealish to stay put if he wants to challenge for a spot in City’s starting XI next season but time is of essence to the ex-Aston Villa captain, who has been left out of the Blues’ Club World Cup squad to help him find a new club and secure a new start at the earliest.