Transfer Centre

Man City transfer news: Information 'requested' on £50m Grealish replacement

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 27 June 2024

Grealish replacement? Man City request 'information' on £50m-rated attacker

Manchester City reportedly ask for information about £50m-rated Bundesliga attacker Dani Olmo, who could be signed as a replacement for Jack Grealish.

Manchester City have reportedly touched base to enquire over a £50m-rated attacker who could succeed Jack Grealish at the Etihad.

Former Aston Villa star Grealish has failed to live up to his £100m price tag since joining the Citizens in the summer of 2021 and experienced another disappointing individual campaign in 2023-24.

The 28-year-old only contributed three goals and three assists from 36 appearances last term and also struggled with injury, factors that led to him being omitted from England's Euro 2024 squad.

Despite still being under contract with Pep Guardiola's side until the summer of 2027, an exit in the coming weeks has been mooted for Grealish, who is apparently open to exploring his options.

Grealish's exit would leave Guardiola working with Jeremy Doku and Phil Foden as his options on the left, although the latter is more comfortable centrally, as has been demonstrated at Euro 2024.

RB Leipzig's Dani Olmo poses with the German Super Cup trophy on August 12, 2023 © Reuters

Man City 'firm up' interest in Dani Olmo

According to Football Insider, the Citizens are making contingency plans in case of Grealish's departure by making contact with RB Leipzig to ask for 'information' on Spain international Dani Olmo.

The 26-year-old's move to Germany from Dinamo Zagreb in the winter of 2020 has proven successful, as he has contributed 29 goals and 34 assists in 148 appearances for Die Roten Bullen across all tournaments.

Injuries restricted Olmo to just 25 matches in 2023-24, but he still conjured up a respectable eight goals and five assists, and he has become a mainstay in the Spain setup thanks to his form in Germany.

The versatile attacker started all of his nation's matches at the 2022 World Cup, and even though his thunder has since been stolen by Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, he assisted Ferran Torres's winner in Spain's final Euro 2024 group success over Albania on Monday.

As is the case with Grealish, Olmo's deal also has three years left to run - having signed an extension last year - but Leipzig would supposedly be happy to part ways with the Spaniard for around £50.6m.

RB Leipzig's Dani Olmo celebrates scoring their second goal on August 25, 2023 © Reuters

A move to the Etihad was apparently considered last year, but due to the exits of Christopher Nkunku, Josko Gvardiol and Dominik Szoboszlai, Leipzig were not prepared to let another one of their highly-rated talents leave.

Why Olmo to Man City makes perfect sense

Despite initially making a name for himself as a number 10, Olmo spent the 2023-24 campaign rotating from the left and right wing to great effect, and his adaptability would surely make him a dream player for Guardiola.

As well as Grealish's future being clouded in uncertainty, there has still been no clarity on the situations of Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva, the former of whom is due to become a free agent next summer.

Meanwhile, barely a transfer window goes by without Silva being linked with a move away, after Guardiola memorably revealed that the Portuguese wanted to leave in the summer of 2022.

While Olmo could not directly replace all three, his ability to function on the right wing, left wing and behind the striker could easily see him succeed one of them, even if his injury record is a slight concern.