Grealish could join Arsenal in Saka swap

Arsenal may be offered Jack Grealish as a makeweight in any potential Manchester City attempt to sign Bukayo Saka, claims Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Grealish’s position

After becoming the most expensive Premier League signing of all time when he joined City for £100m from Aston Villa in 2021, Grealish, who earns £300k per week, arguably hasn’t lived up to that price tag.

Following 32 goals and 43 assists for his boyhood side, the 27-year-old, who has been hailed as a ‘breathtaking’ player, made the switch to the Etihad Stadium in order to win silverware, which he duly did in his first year as he lifted the Premier League trophy.

However, with just seven goals and seven assists in 59 appearances under Pep Guardiola, the Englishman is struggling to consistently show his best form and hold down a regular place in the side ahead of the plethora of attacking talent at the Spaniard’s disposal.

The Latest: Makeweight

90min reported back in September that the Brummie told those close to him that he’s looking to leave the Citizens at the end of the current season, and with his struggles continuing, it would be hard to imagine that’s changed.

As a result, Jones told GiveMeSport that City could look to offload the winger in a potential swap deal for Saka.

He said: “This one still needs to fully unfold as Grealish is working hard to make sure this £100million City move works out – but it’s worth being aware that the club have a constant eye out for ways to keep evolving.

“Rafael Leao is a player they like but so too is Bukayo Saka. Neither are attainable in this moment but that may change later in the year, depending on contract talks.

“One idea being mooted is that Grealish could even end up going in the opposite direction to either of those players.”

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The Verdict: Hard to see

The thought of Arsenal allowing Saka to leave amid the Gunners’ current performances is unimaginable.

Mikel Arteta has made his Gunners side a different beast from what former Emirates outfits looked before, with them currently five points ahead of Grealish’s City side at the top of the table.

But playing devil’s advocate and imagining a deal coming about, the idea of Grealish playing with freedom again under Arteta could be a joy to watch. Dean Saunders dubbed Grealish “world-class” before the World Cup, and perhaps a fresh start at the Emirates would prove the ideal place to prove that acclaim.