Kalvin Phillips, Jack Grealish react to Mahrez message amid Man City exit rumours
Kalvin Phillips and Jack Grealish both look set for Manchester City exits this summer, and they’ve also been keeping an eye on a player who has long since left the club.
The England duo have become marginalised figures at the Etihad Stadium in recent years.
Phillips hasn’t played a competitive match for City since November 2023, spending time out on loan at West Ham United and Ipswich Town in the past two seasons with little success.
Grealish, meanwhile, has managed just 1,716 minutes of Premier League action since the start of 2023/24, while he was given just seven top-flight starts last campaign.
Phillips and Grealish react to Riyad Mahrez post
While Phillips and Grealish will be working on Man City exits this summer, one player who has long since left the Etihad is Riyad Mahrez.
The Algerian forward enjoyed incredible success under Pep Guardiola between 2018 and 2023, hitting 78 goals and 59 assists in 236 appearances across all competitions and winning five Premier League titles and a Champions League among a host of other honours.
However, Mahrez joined the ever-growing list of high-profile players to move to the Saudi Pro League in 2023, joining Al-Ahli — where his 29 goals and 35 assists have helped deliver an AFC Champions League title.
The Saudi Pro League runs on a similar schedule to most European leagues, so Mahrez is currently enjoying some downtime in the off-season.
The 34-year-old posted a video on Instagram on Sunday (20 July) showing off his summer holidays with family and friends.
Mahrez’s post picked up likes from multiple former City teammates, including Phillips, Grealish and Manuel Akanji — alongside Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele.
What next for Phillips and Grealish?
While Phillips will want a swift exit from Manchester City, he cannot do anything until he finishes his recovery from an Achilles tendon injury.
The 29-year-old is predicted back in action sometime in August, and according to Football Insider transfer correspondent Pete O’Rourke, he is then expected to leave Man City immediately in order to re-ignite his career.
Grealish’s situation is even more complex.
Everton and West Ham United are understood to be among the frontrunners for the 39-time England international.
| Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Aston Villa | 213 | 32 | 43 |
| Man City | 157 | 17 | 23 |
| Notts County | 39 | 5 | 7 |
| England | 39 | 4 | 8 |
However, the former only want a loan deal, with Grealish’s significant salary currently proving a stumbling block for all potential suitors.
Newcastle United are also thought to be considering an approach for Grealish as they prepare for their return to the Uefa Champions League next season.
Either way, both players almost certainly need to leave Man City this summer, with the exits of Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker, coupled with signings like Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki, proving Guardiola’s insistence on completely revamping his squad.