Jack Grealish’s Pivotal Summer Amid Arsenal Interest: Can He Revive His Man City Career?
Jack Grealish is gearing up for a crucial summer at Manchester City following a lackluster 2023/24 season that saw him lose his starting spot and miss out on England’s EURO 2024 squad.
Grealish, City’s record signing, initially struggled after his £100 million move from Aston Villa in 2021 but bounced back with an outstanding 2022/23 season, contributing significantly to City’s treble win. However, the 28-year-old fell out of favor last season, and with the potential signing of Brazilian sensation Savio, Grealish faces a tough battle to revive his City career.
Determined to stay and prove his worth, Grealish isn’t on the market just yet. But if he fails to regain his form, City might find it challenging to recoup a significant portion of the £100 million they invested in him. At 29 next summer and potentially coming off two subpar seasons, the window to sell Grealish for a substantial fee may be closing.
Arsenal has shown interest in Grealish and is looking for a new wide player this summer. While a move for a proven Premier League talent like Grealish fits the bill, the cost remains a concern given his three-year contract at the Etihad Stadium. However, according to Reach Sport’s Business of Football writer Dave Powell, there is a way for Arsenal to land Grealish for £60 million, benefiting all parties involved.
“Arsenal’s recent on-pitch success will help them reduce losses from the 2022/23 financial year,” Powell explained. “The Gunners have room for maneuver when it comes to PSR. They have offset higher amortized costs by extending player contracts and effective trading. They could have a PSR buffer of around £90 million, but new regulations in 2025 will require clubs to keep payroll and amortization costs under a 70% limit for UEFA and 85% for the Premier League.”
Powell continued, “Grealish’s market value, according to Transfermarkt, is €60 million (£51 million), down from a high of €100 million (£84.6 million) when City signed him. With three years left on his contract, City has leverage, but his recent form and exclusion from the EURO 2024 squad have affected his value. City would likely seek more than £51 million, aiming for around £60 million to realize a profit, given his remaining book value is just under £50 million.”
“For Arsenal, a £60 million deal would mean £12 million per year in amortized costs over five years. For City, selling Grealish wouldn’t significantly impact their finances, but with rising wages and a future Premier League salary cap, reducing payroll costs might be on executives’ minds. Additionally, waiting until next summer to sell Grealish, when he’ll be nearing 30 with two years left on his contract, could halve his value.”
As Grealish faces a defining summer, the stakes are high. Can he rediscover his form and cement his place at City, or will a move to Arsenal become a reality? The coming months will be crucial for the England international’s career trajectory.
