Jack Grealish looks set to leave Manchester City this summer after falling out of favour under Pep Guardiola but his hopes of an exit to a new club might already have been dashed
Jack Grealish’s move to Napoli is already in major jeopardy with the Italian side struggling to afford his eye-watering wages. The Manchester City star looks to have little future under Pep Guardiola after being axed by the Spaniard.
Serie A champions Napoli had emerged as the most likely escape route for the England man, with reports suggesting that the Italian side were willing to spend around £45m on his signature. A move to Naples would have seen Grealish reunited with former City star Kevin De Bruyne, who put pen to paper on a two-year deal with the side earlier this summer.
But it appears that the switch is already in doubt. According to the Independent, Napoli refuse to match Grealish’s current wage packet which reportedly sits at around £300,000 per week.
It is suggested that City would potentially have to put up half of the bill to facilitate a move. And as it stands, Napoli already have alternatives in mind having also added Manchester United star Alejandro Garnacho to their shortlist - the Argentine seen potentially as a better long-term investment due to his age.
Grealish still has time to sort out his future, with the transfer window set to remain open until September. But as it stands, City have yet to receive any offers for his services, with a loan move looking the most likely route out of the Etihad.
Grealish still has two years remaining on his lucrative contract in Manchester, with Pep Guardiola having suggested it might be best for him to look for a new club for game time. Speaking at the end of last season, the City boss said: "Of course, Jack has to play.
“That's the truth. Jack is an unbelievable player that has to play football every three days. And it didn't happen this season, and last season neither. And he needs to do it with us, or another place.
"But that is a question for Jack, his agent, and the club. If he stays, we'll be fine, and he'll fight like he fought since day one to make a contribution."
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He added: "It's not anything personal about Jack, absolutely anything. I'm the person who fought [for him] to come here, and fought [for him] to stay here this season and the previous season. The one that said I want Jack with me.
"What happens in the future? Listen, it's a job for Hugo [Viana], for Txiki [Bergiristain]. It's not for me."
Ironically, Grealish has already given a hint about what would motivate him to move. Following his original switch to Man City in 2021, he was asked by a fan if he wanted to win trophies at the Etihad. He replied: "Definitely, that is the reason I signed for Manchester City."