England outcast Jack Grealish is understood to be keen on a move to Newcastle United in a bid to resurrect his stalled career.
The forward has slipped down the pecking order at Manchester City this season after a series of underwhelming displays. Injuries have also halted the player’s momentum after he played a key role in City’s Treble winning season in 2022/23.
Chronicle Live revealed last month that Grealish had been offered to Newcastle, with talk of a summer move as he looks to move on from the Etihad. Having cost a British record £100million in 2021, the winger’s value is now a fraction of that.
And sources close to the player have told the Chronicle that the player is open to a move to Tyneside. Grealish and his camp believe Eddie Howe’s management style will help him back to form in a crucial season which finishes with a World Cup in USA, Mexico and Canada.
Grealish was not included in Thomas Tuchel’s first Three Lions squad this week for the World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia. Instead, the 29-year-old will watch on as the likes of Anthony Gordon, Phil Foden, Jarrod Bowen and Marcus Rashford vie for the wide attacking spots in the German’s first line-up since taking charge.
Grealish had been a key member of Lee Carsley’s squads when the caretaker manager took control for four games after Gareth Southgate stepped down. Indeed, Grealish scored in the first game of Carsley’s tenure in the 2-0 win over Republic of Ireland.
However, his lack of minutes and lack of form for City this season has meant he has been left out of Tuchel’s plans. The thought of missing out on a World Cup, having also been omitted by Southgate from the Euros last summer, is enough for Grealish to consider moving clubs this summer.
Newcastle legend Alan Shearer said: “It’s really tricky. First and foremost, he’ll want to get back into the Man City side and only he can determine that. I don’t know what’s happening or not happening in training.
“You hear one or two bits from Pep Guardiola saying Jack Grealish may not be quite happy with what’s happening at City. As a player, when everything is not rosy you have to think, what’s best for me and what’s best for the team? Do I have to get my head down and win my place back or is it best that I go elsewhere. Only Grealish will know that.
“Grealish is at a great football club and has had huge success but being left out of this England squad will be a wake-up call for him.”
The former Aston Villa man was pictured in the North East in a Washington social club, where he was visiting Jordan Pickford’s brother. Grealish is understood to be keen on a more permanent move to the region, but it remains to be seen whether he fits the bill for Howe, who already has Gordon and Harvey Barnes who play in a similar position as the City man.
Newcastle are in the market for a right-sided attacker in the summer, with Grealish more suited to a left wing role or even as a No.10. With Paul Mitchell’s transfer kitty likely to still be fairly tight, and four positions being targeted – goalkeeper, centre-half, right wing and centre forward- it seems unlikely that there will be enough budget left for Grealish unless someone else moves on.
Grealish also still has two years left on his contract, worth an estimated £300,000 a week. He has started just six league games this season under Guardiola.
