Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola will ‘want to make sure’ Jack Grealish is a ‘success’ at the club, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.
The talented winger endured an underwhelming debut campaign in front of goal for the reigning Premier League champions last term, drawing criticism from certain corners.
What is the latest news involving Grealish?
A recent report from 90min claimed that Grealish reportedly told those close to him that he does not expect to remain at City beyond 2022/23 after struggling to find his best form.
It’s believed that the England international has already asked his agent to search for potential suitors ahead of next summer’s transfer window re-opening, but there is plenty of time for him to turn things around.
Grealish penned a six-year contract worth £250,000-per-week last summer after completing a British-record £100 million move from Aston Villa.
However, his return of six goals and four assists in 39 appearances for City last season was disappointing, and the creative talent has recently admitted that he should be finding the back of the net on a more regular basis.
It could be a crucial few months for Grealish’s career at the Etihad Stadium, therefore, and he’ll surely be hoping to see some improvements within his own game.
What has Sheth said about Grealish?
Sheth has informed GiveMeSport that he ‘can’t see’ City splashing out such an astronomical figure on Grealish only to sell him on just two years later, while Guardiola would view his departure as a personal ‘failure’.
He said: “I can't see Manchester City committing that much money if they weren't going to see that one through because he's obviously a talented player.
“And Pep Guardiola, if they weren't to keep him, it would almost be a failure on his part, and he’d probably see it that way as well. So, I think he'd want to make sure that he's going to make Jack Grealish a success at City.”
Has Grealish been harshly criticised?
There is little debate that Grealish’s tally of seven goals and four assists in 45 outings for City is below-par for a player of his quality and price tag.
Nevertheless, the immensely talented ace’s underlying numbers indicate that his performance levels have been up to scratch and that his attacking output should improve.
As per FBref, Grealish has ranked in the 99th percentile for progressive carries, 98th for touches in the attacking penalty area, 94th for shot-creating actions, 92nd for expected assists and 90th for progressive passes received amongst his positional peers over the last year.
It’s now up to Grealish to silence his doubters by making a more telling contribution in the final third of the pitch on a consistent basis, and he definitely has the skill set to do just that.