Manchester City winger Jack Grealish is reportedly determined to fight for his place in Pep Guardiola’s side this season following talk of a possible exit.
Manchester City winger Jack Grealish is supposedly keen to stay and fight for his place in Pep Guardiola‘s system following talk of a possible move away.
The former Aston Villa attacker is yet to justify his £100m price tag since making his marquee move to the Etihad in 2021 and endured another difficult campaign on a personal level last season.
Grealish was an important figure in City’s treble success in 2022-23, but he only managed three goals and three assists in 36 matches in the 2023-24 campaign, where he also struggled with injury.
The 28-year-old was snubbed for a place in Gareth Southgate‘s final England Euro 2024 squad as a result, despite being called up to the preliminary selection and impressing in their friendly win over Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Despite having three years left to run on his Man City contract, it was reported earlier in the summer that Grealish was pondering an exit from the Etihad in the current transfer window due to his limited opportunities under Guardiola.
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Grealish ‘relishing’ attacking battle with Jeremy Doku
However, Football Insider now claims that the ex-Villa protege now wants to continue in sky blue and is determined to fight for his spot in the Premier League champions’ starting lineup.
Thanks to a wealth of City players being called up for the Euros and Copa America, Grealish has been a key man for Guardiola in pre-season, scoring in their 2-2 draw with Barcelona in the United States.
Grealish’s performance against the La Liga powerhouses drew praise from Guardiola, who talked up the “aggressive” display of a winger who has a serious point to prove in the 2024-25 campaign.
The England international is also believed to be ‘relishing’ his battle with Jeremy Doku for starts on the left-hand side next term, and he also believes that he is in the best shape he has ever been in.
As a result, Grealish believes that he is capable of earning regular minutes at City next term, although he could have another change of heart in January if his playing situation does not improve.
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The 28-year-old has made 125 competitive appearances for the Premier League champions since becoming the most expensive British player of all time in 2021, a record that has since been broken by Declan Rice‘s £105m move to Arsenal.
Grealish has come up with 14 goals and 18 assists for Guardiola’s side in that time, winning three top-flight titles, one Champions League, one Club World Cup, one FA Cup and the UEFA Super Cup.
Grealish wants to stay, but could another attacker leave?
While the Englishman is seemingly set to remain in Manchester for another few months at the very least, his fellow attacker Julian Alvarez is being strongly linked with a big-money departure.
Atletico Madrid are said to be in talks over a £70m deal for the Argentina international, who is expected to spend another season as Erling Haaland‘s backup next term and is now pining for more regular starts.
Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly rivalling the Spanish giants for the signature of Alvarez, whose recent comments about his future triggered a blunt response from Guardiola.