‘Jack Grealish to leave Man City for top club as Marcus Rashford link dismissed’
Jack Grealish has to leave Man City but comparisons with Marcus Rashford’s own exit from Man United have been knocked back by Ally McCoist.
Rashford has flourished since joining Villa, grabbing three assists in his last three appearances and creating an incredible partnership with fellow loanee Marco Asensio.
His minutes on the pitch at Old Trafford had diminished totally under Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim, and Grealish now appears to be in a similar situation on the other side of Manchester.
Grealish, who has been tipped for a Villa Park return, has just six Premier League starts to his name this season, and after just 10 league starts last term, questions are being asked about his current situation.
Jack Grealish could leave Man City in search of more minutes
Asked by Jeff Stelling whether Grealish needs to leave Man City, McCoist, via talkSPORT [4 March, 9:25am], said: “He does. I do think he does. If you’d asked me six months ago, I might have given a different answer but you’re asking me now.
“I think he does. He just needs… He’s not in the same boat as Rashford, who needed to get away because he wasn’t doing himself justice and wanted a new challenge. Jack isn’t getting enough of an opportunity at City, and it doesn’t look as though that’s going to change.
“For that reason, he’s got to go and play. He’s clearly good enough to play at the top level for someone else. If he doesn’t get a game when City are really struggling, when will he?”
Pep Guardiola preparing for mass exodus this summer
Football Insider verdict
It is certainly a good point. The former Villa star has the ability to spark the team into life, but with him usually being sat on the bench rather than on the pitch, his talent is currently being wasted.
Mick Brown already told Football Insider in January that City would accept cut-price offers for Grealish, replacing him with new a wide option amid a summer overhaul.
Savinho and Jeremy Doku have been preferred on the flanks instead, with Phil Foden or Bernardo Silva pushed further out wide if needed.
| Jack Grealish (2024/25) | Games played (Start) |
| Premier League | 16 (6) |
| Champions League | 6 (4) |
| FA Cup | 3 (3) |
| EFL Cup | 1 (1) |
Man City have lined up five big-name signings for Pep Guardiola, and many are expecting the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Mateo Kovacic and Silva to also walk out the exit doors.
Guardiola has also tipped to leave City at the end of the season, which truly would spark a brand-new era for the reigning Premier League champions, and throw the club into a lot of uncertainty.
It could be a summer of change at the Etihad Stadium, with Grealish likely to be one of the players who finds a new club, especially if he continues to suffer from a lack of minutes on the pitch this term.