Jack Grealish's next move has taken a turn nobody expected a week ago. Atletico Madrid have emerged as a genuine option for the Manchester City winger, with reports on Saturday describing the La Liga side as ready to offer him an escape route out of the Etihad.
City, for their part, look increasingly open to letting him go. We reported last week that Everton's hopes of re-signing Grealish depended entirely on a decision Manchester City hadn't made yet. That decision appears to be moving in a direction nobody at Goodison Park will like.
Atletico's interest is the new development. Grealish's contract, wages, and recent struggles have been public knowledge for months. The difference now is that another major European club is prepared to make a move, with the Sky Blues appearing more open to a permanent sale than another loan.
Why Atletico Madrid Are Considering A Move For Jack Grealish
According to The Sun, Atletico are weighing up a genuine move rather than simply monitoring Grealish from a distance.
Diego Simeone is understood to admire the 30-year-old's attitude and believes his physical, duel-heavy style could translate well to Spanish football. Sporting director Mateu Alemany has reportedly already secured Simeone's approval to pursue the deal.
According to Goal, it is described as one of the most complicated transfers of the summer to actually complete. The biggest obstacle is his salary. Grealish reportedly earns £300,000 a week under the contract he signed after his British-record £100 million move from Aston Villa in 2021.
His reported £300,000-a-week wages no longer match his current market value. Transfermarkt now values Grealish at around £17 million, which is a steep drop from the £100m City paid in 2021.
Los Rojiblancos have not settled on an official offer yet. Any agreement is likely to depend on City accepting a lower fee, accepting another loan, or agreeing to cover part of Grealish's wages.
Even if he joins Atletico, Grealish would still have to earn his place. The Spanish giants already field strong options across their wide attacking positions, and Simeone regularly rotates that role depending on the opponent, instead of relying on a fixed starter all season.
Why Manchester City Are Now Open To Selling Jack Grealish
Just days ago, sources close to Man City indicated that Enzo Maresca was open to keeping Grealish and hadn't pushed for an exit. By Saturday, though, City-focused account CitySourceHQ reported that the club's position had shifted towards a permanent sale.
Maresca inherited Grealish from Pep Guardiola's final season and had reportedly told people inside the club he wanted to judge him fresh, rather than assume the exit Guardiola's regime had all but confirmed.
Much of the focus had been on Grealish's pre-season performances and whether he would feature prominently on City's Asia tour. Atletico's interest has changed the conversation, putting a permanent transfer firmly back on the table.
Grealish has two years left on his contract, which runs until 2027. That leaves City in a stronger position to demand a transfer fee, while giving interested clubs time to negotiate instead of waiting for his deal to wind down.
What Other Clubs Are Interested In Jack Grealish?
Los Rojiblancos are not the only club circling. Everton, where Grealish spent last season on loan before a broken foot ended his campaign early, are exploring another move, though their financial position limits what they can offer.
David Moyes has already ruled out triggering the £50million option built into last season's loan, with The Toffees offering somewhere between £5 million and £10 million if a return happens at all.
Grealish left Villa Park for City in 2021, and sources close to the club describe genuine interest in bringing their former captain home, even if it means City accepting a smaller fee for sentimental reasons.
Saudi Arabian and MLS clubs remain potential options for Grealish, largely because they can offer wages beyond the reach of Atletico, Everton or Aston Villa. That interest could also strengthen City's hand in any transfer talks.
