Pep must sell Man City star who Txiki thinks is an "incredible talent"

Pep Guardiola must be ruthless in the transfer window this summer if he is to take Manchester City back to the top of English football.

The Spaniard splashed millions on four new signings during the winter window – most notably Omar Marmoush – and while they all look promising, it might take a few months for the four to properly gel.

Over the years, he hasn’t been shy about spending money on bringing the best talent to the club, that’s for sure.

Manchester City’s most expensive signings under Guardiola

The former Barcelona manager has signed a host of players for over £60m in his spell as City boss. Ruben Dias cost £62m back in the summer of 2020 and instantly bolstered his defensive options, now captaining the club on regular occasions.

One of the most important signings made by the manager was that of Rodri, who cost £62.8m in 2019. He may have taken a year or two to settle, but now he is definitively the best player in the world, having won the Ballon d’Or a few months ago.

Josko Gvardiol was the second-most expensive signing made by Guardiola, splashing out £77.5m to secure his signature after some impressive showings during the 2022/23 campaign and he’s only gone from strength to strength, scoring ten goals from full-back over the last season and a half.

Only once has the manager spent £100m or more on a player since taking over the club in 2016 and this came three and a half years ago. Jack Grealish emerged as one of the brightest talents in the Premier League, leading to City spending £100m on him in 2021.

The Etihad side became the first English club to spend this amount on a single player, with Director of Football, Txiki Begiristain, delighted to sign him, admitting that Grealish was an “incredible talent” upon his arrival.

Despite this lavish fee, the Englishman hasn’t quite lived up to expectations.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast’s ‘First Impressions’ series has everything you need.

Why Man City must now sell Jack Grealish

The former Villa talent scored five goals in his first season, winning his first Premier League title in the process. Since then it has been steady progress. That was, until, the last year or so.

That debut campaign was followed up with 16 goal contributions during the 2022/23 season, as City became the second English side to win the treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League trophies.

Since then, however, things haven’t been great for the 29-year-old. A tally of six goal contributions was a poor return last season and this stagnation has crept into his game throughout the current term.

The winger has netted just twice, against PSG and Salford City, while starting only 14 games in all competitions under Guardiola.

Despite this lack of impact on the pitch, Grealish is currently earning a staggering £300k-per-week at City, ranking him joint-third out of everyone at the club.

Only Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland – two of City’s most influential players – are ahead of him, suggesting that Guardiola must move Grealish on this summer.

He was previously linked with a move back to Aston Villa during the winter transfer window, but nothing came of it.

With two years left on his current contract, will the manager cash in this summer? He should do.

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