Manchester City could help Napoli pay Grealish’s wages, ruled out by Guardiola

Jack Grealish’s future at Manchester City remains uncertain, and the club may be willing to assist Napoli financially to offload the England international in the current European summer transfer window.

Signed for a record fee from Aston Villa in 2021, Grealish has struggled to meet expectations under Pep Guardiola, who has now reportedly ruled him out of plans for the 2025/26 season.

Napoli Lead the Race—but Face Salary Barrier

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Napoli are the primary suitors for Grealish. The Italian club, who recently signed Kevin De Bruyne, are exploring ways to bring in the winger as part of a summer overhaul. However, Grealish’s high salary remains a major obstacle one well beyond Napoli’s current wage structure.

To overcome this, Manchester City are reportedly considering covering a portion of Grealish’s wages to facilitate a deal, as reported by Transfer Feed. This kind of salary-sharing agreement could open the door to a loan or discounted permanent transfer.

Guardiola No Longer Counting on Grealish

After four seasons at the Etihad, Grealish has failed to cement his place as a consistent starter. In the 2024/25 campaign, he made 32 appearances, contributing just eight goals and assists combined a return far from expectations given his price tag.

Despite flashes of brilliance, Guardiola is said to prefer new attacking options and is open to trimming the squad as City look to refresh their attacking line.

If a deal goes through, Grealish would be reunited with De Bruyne at Napoli though the Belgian endured a rough debut, with Napoli suffering a shock 2-0 loss to Serie C side Arezzo in preseason.

Ederson Also Linked With City Exit

City’s transfer window remains busy on multiple fronts. Veteran Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson is also believed to be close to leaving the club, with reports linking him to Galatasaray in Turkey.

The potential departures of Grealish and Ederson signal a broader restructuring under Guardiola, as City aim to remain competitive both domestically and in Europe in the upcoming season.