Jack Grealish’s transfer plans outlined as Serie A giants emerge as potential suitor | OneFootball

The aims and ambitions of Jack Grealish in the transfer market have been reliably outlined in a new report concerning the Manchester City forward’s future.

Grealish is expected to leave Manchester City this summer either on loan or a permanent transfer as the 29-year-old forward’s representatives hunt for a new club to boost his chances of revitalising his England career.

England boss Thomas Tuchel has overlooked Grealish in his first two squads since his appointment last year, doubling down on the desperate need for the former Aston Villa captain to be playing regularly for his club if he is to be on the plane for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Pep Guardiola has left the door for Grealish to stay on at Manchester City into the new season but there is a general acceptance that now is the right time for all parties to move on, with Grealish barely playing in the recent Premier League campaign.

A return to Aston Villa has been mooted for Manchester City’s record-signing, who cost the Blues £100 million when he moved to the Etihad Stadium in 2021. However, things haven’t gone as planned for Grealish in Manchester.

After a debut campaign that saw Grealish adjust to life under Guardiola – as is so often the case for new signings at Manchester City – the forward was instrumental in City’s march to a historic treble and their maiden UEFA Champions League title in the 2022-23 season.

However, Grealish struggled to kick on from his heroics in what has arguably been his only good season in a sky blue jersey, admitting to issues on and off the pitch derailing him from realising his best potential in the 2023-24 campaign.

With recurring fitness setbacks last season, Grealish was in and out of Guardiola’s starting XI and was overlooked for teenager Claudio Echeverri in the FA Cup final, with the Argentine teenager making his club debut off the bench and tasked to influence proceedings over Grealish – as City chased an equaliser against Crystal Palace at Wembley.

Grealish was also left out of the matchday squad for the final Premier League game of the campaign away at Fulham and with Guardiola set to leave the forward out of the Club World Cup squad too, it looks certain that a move is indeed on the cards.

According to BBC Sport’s Alex Brotherton, Pep Guardiola and the Manchester City board still ‘love’ Jack Grealish, for his ‘attitude and popularity within the squad’, and quality on the pitch.

However, there is now a belief this is the right time to move on with the player also in agreement, believing it would be best to focus on his future and finding a new club while remaining open to all options.

It is explained that Grealish wants a permanent new home rather than a loan, while Manchester City are open to a temporary exit despite preferring to sell amid an acceptance of getting nowhere near their £100 million investment.

As well as being open to staying in the Premier League, with the aim of playing at the highest level possible and ideally in the Champions League, it is stressed that a move to the continent would not be ruled out while Saudi Arabia is a ‘last resort’.

Reporting elsewhere courtesy of talkSPORT’s Alex Crook has named Serie A champions Napoli as admirers of Jack Grealish, with the Italian giants also expected to sign Kevin De Bruyne on a free transfer this summer.