Former Manchester City midfielder sends message to Jack Grealish over next club | OneFootball

Jack Grealish has been urged to make a move to Merseyside this summer by one of Manchester City’s former midfielders as doubts continue to loom over his future.

The 29-year-old is out of favour under Pep Guardiola and after marking just seven starts in the recent Premier League campaign, City bosses have told Grealish to find a new club to revitalise his career and fight for a place back in the England squad ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Grealish joined Manchester City for a club-record £100 million fee when the Blues activated the winger’s release clause at Aston Villa in the summer of 2021, having since won three Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League title at the Etihad Stadium.

The Birmingham-born attacker starred for Guardiola on the left side of attack and enjoyed his best season in a Manchester City shirt over the course of the 2022-23 campaign that saw Guardiola and co win a historic treble.

However, after justifying the outlay made to secure his services in just one of his first four years in Manchester, there is a general acceptance that Grealish – who remains a popular figure behind the scenes at City – needs to get back to playing week-in, week-out.

The former Aston Villa captain struggled for starts and fitness last season and despite impressing when called upon by Guardiola, it is not an exaggeration to say that the Englishman has lost the spark that once made him so crucial to Guardiola, especially during the treble-winning season.

City have made six new signings this summer following the appointment of Hugo Viana as director of football, with the club bosses understood to be keen to trim the wage bill and streamline Guardiola’s squad to challenge for all major trophies in the seasons to come after a sub-standard year on the pitch.

Grealish remains one of the highest earners at Manchester City, alongside Erling Haaland, following the departure of Kevin De Bruyne this summer. A former blue has now tipped his compatriot to seek a fresh start and prove his doubters wrong.

Speaking via the Liverpool Echo, former Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry has urged Jack Grealish to take on a move to Everton this summer as he continues to mull over where to take his top-level career next.

“If I was sitting in Jack’s shoes I’d be wanting to go out there and prove everyone wrong,” Barry insisted. “People are starting to write him off a little bit. He’ll be thinking he can still get in the England squad, if he can play regular football and that’s exactly what I’d be thinking.”

Gareth Barry continued, “For me Everton would be a good move… He probably wouldn’t have to move from where he’s living up in Cheshire, so he’d be settled off the pitch and he can go out there and concentrate on the football and prove everyone wrong.

“Because everyone knows that he’s got the ability to go and produce the goods. So for me if Jack went to Everton that would be a great move.”