Jack Grealish was left out of Manchester City’s 28-player squad for the club’s tour of Hong Kong and Seoul on Tuesday night, adding another layer of uncertainty around his future.
The 30-year-old had already been back in pre-season training last week after being spotted among the players who reported for duty, but he did not make the plane for a trip that includes three friendly matches. Grealish is now into the final 12 months of his contract, with little sign of new terms on his reported £300,000-a-week wages.
What his omission means
The decision does not confirm a transfer, but it does suggest Grealish is not guaranteed a central role in Manchester City’s plans. The club are understood to be open to offers this summer, and his absence from the Asia tour will only sharpen the focus on what comes next.
Grealish’s situation is notable because he is back at City after a loan spell at Everton, where he sustained a season-ending foot injury in January. Everton did not make that move permanent, and he now returns to a squad that is still being shaped during the offseason.
Manchester City are due to face Inter Milan on Saturday in Enzo Maresca's first game in charge, before playing K-League All Stars and Atletico Madrid in Seoul next week. That schedule gives the club a chance to assess the group, but Grealish will not be part of the travelling party for those games.
Guardiola's stance
Pep Guardiola has not said Grealish is out of the picture, but the broader message around the winger has been clear enough: he remains a Manchester City player for now, and the club will decide what happens next.
That leaves Grealish in a familiar but uncomfortable position. He is still contracted to Manchester City, still officially on their books, and still a player with significant experience at the top level. But with no extension agreed and his tour omission now public, the next step could depend on whether another club is ready to make a serious move before the window progresses.
