Jack Grealish responds to Kalvin Phillips’ message after confirmed Man City exit
Kalvin Phillips and Jack Grealish were two of the first names on the transfer list ahead of Pep Guardiola’s rebuild at Manchester City this summer.
Man City‘s squad is undergoing its biggest period of transformation arguably since the summer of 2017, as Guardiola looks to bounce back from his first trophyless season since his first campaign at the Etihad.
Football Insider revealed last month that Phillips, Grealish and James McAtee headline the list of players Guardiola wants to sell this summer, and all three have been heavily linked with Premier League suitors.
Nottingham Forest are on the verge of a cut-price deal for McAtee and Phillips has been tipped to make a return to boyhood club Leeds United, but Man City have already struck gold with Grealish’s departure.
Phillips tells Grealish to ‘smash’ Everton move after Man City exit
Grealish‘s huge wages were expected to stand in the way of a permanent move away from the Etihad Stadium this summer, but the 29-year-old is already in pastures new with David Moyes’ Everton.
Everton have completed the signing of Grealish on a season-long loan with a £50million option to buy included, which can be triggered at the player’s behest should he make Merseyside his new home.
Phillips, who remains some way off a loan or permanent move of his own after Achilles surgery over the summer, posted on his Instagram story on 12 August to wish Grealish luck at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Phillips’ message said; “All the best my brother! Go smash it”, and Grealish shared this post to his own story to say; “My brother”, in response.
Man City set for trio of cut-price exits after Grealish move
Football Insider Verdict
Former Toffees CEO Keith Wyness told Football Insider that Everton will try to agree a cut-price fee for Grealish should his loan spell be a success, rather than pay the £50m Man City have insisted upon.
McAtee is also valued highly by Man City despite their stance on his future this summer, but Nottingham Forest want to buy the 22-year-old for £20–25m in a huge reduction to his £35–40m price tag at City.
Phillips’ future is far less certain than the out-of-favour attacking duo at the Etihad Stadium, and with Tijjani Reijnders taking his squad number, Leeds are one of few clubs who could still take a punt on the 29-year-old.