Guardiola to get rid of Jack Grealish at Man City – ‘Just not gonna work with Pep’
Man City will sell Jack Grealish in the summer as the “economics” of keeping him no longer make sense, according to Simon Jordan.
Grealish was criticised after being seen leaving a pub, the day after a strong performance against Plymouth in the FA Cup 1 March.
With Marcus Rashford flourishing since leaving Man United, Grealish has been linked with a similar move away from Man City.
Despite appearing to not break any rules with his trip out on the town, the England international has been criticised, with the Sky Blues on their worst run of form in years.
Martin Keown says alcohol is like ‘poison’ to a footballer’s body
When Arsene Wenger joined Arsenal in 1996, Martin Keown witnessed first-hand the Frenchman’s revolutionary methods.
A lot of what the French manager brought to the table was related to dilligence, and professionalism, but one of the more controversial elements was his blanket ban on alcohol.
Speaking on talkSPORT (11.41am), Keown explained why he thinks the relationship between Guardiola and Grealish will not work, saying: “He’s been injured a lot Jim [White], and there are links to alcohol, it’s like Wenger used to say, it’s like poison to the body.
“These are Formula One cars, and you have to behave in the right way.
“Of course, he [Guardiola] sees the player out again, as soon as life’s good again, he’s having a drink, and it’s a very public place, and it’s not a good look for that particular player, because he wants that player to home in and really put it top of the list.
“It’s not really conducting himself in the right way, to get on the right side of the manager.
“It’s just not gonna work with Pep.”
Man City will look to get a financial return on Jack Grealish this summer
When City signed Grealish in 2021, for a British record of £100million, they were signing one of the most sought after, and talented players in world football.
Four years later, both parties are Champions League and multiple-time Premier League winners.
However, Grealish has only ever been a supporting member in Guardiola’s cast, rather than playing a starring role, and Jordan explained why he believes the England international will be sold this summer, saying: “This is a guy that’s played 90 games in four years for Man City, after being bought for a hundred million quid.
“He’s got two years left on his contract, he’ll be sold this summer, because the economics of it don’t make sense any longer to keep him any longer.
“They’re gonna rebuild, and I don’t think they’ll rebuild around him.
“He’s 30 years of age this year, he’s on their balance sheet at 35 million quid, if they want to get some sort of return on him, and be able to move forward, they’ll sell him.”
Jack Grealish should take his talents abroad this summer
Football Insider Verdict
Grealish has been linked with a move to Tottenham, Leeds, and a return to Aston Villa this summer.
Each club comes with benefits, Spurs could make the 29-year-old an integral member of their squad, but the lack of European football (as things stand), and uncertainty around Ange Postecoglou’s future, would make them an unappealing proposition at the moment.
Leeds are flying in the Championship at the moment, but it is hard to see how they could afford Grealish, whilst also building a Premier League-ready squad.
Aston Villa would be a nice full-circle moment, but it would be a surprise to see the Villains move for their former star, with the club more likely to be focusing their recruitment drive on Rashford.
The alternative is a move abroad. Getting away from the English media, and being given a clean slate could do wonders for Grealish.
What’s more, his style of football, the desire to pick up the ball in space, drive into it, make a defender miss, the aspects of his game that made fans fall in love with the winger, could be devastating for a team like Dortmund, or Milan, who have both found joy in having players of his ilk in recent years, such as Jadon Sancho, and Suso.