Arsenal are in the market for a forward this summer and Jack Grealish could be the perfect addition
Arsenal may have been handed the perfect chance to strike a sensational deal with Manchester City to bring Jack Grealish to Emirates Stadium.
Despite winning the Premier League with City last season, Grealish endured a frustrating campaign personally, struggling to regularly break into Pep Guardiola’s first choice line-up. The 28-year-old made 36 appearances for the champions during the 2023/24 season, scoring three goals and assisting three more.
He only managed 2,124 minutes, however, which was considerably less than the 3,495 he managed the previous season. “It depends on him,” Guardiola said on the England international in February. “[It] depends on him and all of them, you know.
“I try to be fair in my decision. We make mistakes but… so if he plays a lot of minutes last season and this season a little bit less in the beginning, it is the same player, the same manager, the same way we want to play.
“The same. Nothing changed, it’s just how you perform that is the difference and we need him. I said from the day one we need him, having a special quality for our team. We need him. It depends on him. Hopefully he can do a good last month.”
Competition for places at City is already competitive and Grealish could fall even further down the pecking order next season with the arrival of Savio. The 20-year-old is expected to complete a move to City from fellow City Football Group side Troyes in the coming weeks.
Savio caught the eye while out on loan at Girona last season, scoring 11 goals and assisting 10 more in 41 appearances for the La Liga side. The Brazilian, who operates on the left wing, is expected to sign for Man City in a deal worth £40million. With Jeremy Doku also at Guardiola’s disposal, Grealish’s opportuntiies may reduce further should Savio stay at Man City for the 2024/25 campaign and not be sent out on loan.
“Despite many proposals, Manchester City decide to bring him back as Sávio can be an important player,” transfer guru Fabrizio Romano wrote on Facebook. “Formal steps expected to follow after Copa America.”
With Grealish’s lack of game time last campaign resulting in Gareth Southgate not picking him as part of England’s Euro 2024 squad, it’s possible Grealish would be open to a move away from Manchester this summer. This is where Arsenal may come into play.
football.london understands Edu and Arteta are keen on improving the Gunners squad between now and August 30 ahead of a third successive Premier League title challenge. While a central midfielder is seen as the priority signing, football.london understands the north Londoners are in the market for a player who can play in the forward areas.
Grealish would be an upgrade on Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard and would bring a winning mentality into the Gunners squad. It’s possible the former Aston Villa man even plays in the Arsenal midfield, perhaps in one of the No.8 positions should Arteta envisage him there.
City’s No.10 is valued at £50million by Transfermarkt although it’s possible City would want a fee much higher than that. It remains to be seen if Arsenal even hold an interest in Grealish but with Savio seemingly joining Guardiola’s side, it would be foolish for Edu to not even explore a move.