Man City Pick Real Madrid Star as Jack Grealish Replacement

‎Manchester City are preparing a major move in the transfer market, with Real Madrid forward Rodrygo emerging as a leading candidate to replace Jack Grealish.

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‎Man City are weighing a €100m move for Rodrygo as Guardiola eyes fresh attacking options, with Grealish’s exit and Tottenham's Savinho bid in motion.

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‎Fabrizio Romano reports that City view Rodrygo as a top target, describing the Brazilian as Pep Guardiola’s “dream” signing. The potential transfer is expected to be valued around €100 million (£87m/$109m). City are in the midst of reshaping their squad, with Grealish linked to a loan switch to Everton and Savinho attracting interest from Tottenham. At Real Madrid, Rodrygo’s role has drawn attention, especially after he appeared to feel underappreciated last season. Under new manager Xabi Alonso, he has not consistently featured in either the Club World Cup or pre-season matches.

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'Rodrygo.'

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‎City’s pursuit of Rodrygo is part of a broader plan to reconfigure their attacking setup. Grealish, who joined the club in 2021 for a record fee as the most expensive British player, has struggled to secure regular minutes and is aiming to boost his playing time ahead of the World Cup. Savinho, despite making an impact during his debut campaign at the Etihad, may also depart as the club looks to adjust its non-homegrown player quota. Rodrygo’s ability to operate across the front line, coupled with his Champions League pedigree, makes him an attractive option. Over the 2024-25 La Liga season, he tallied six goals and six assists in 30 appearances.

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‎Since arriving in Madrid in 2019, Rodrygo has been instrumental in securing two Champions League titles and three La Liga championships.

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‎Whether Rodrygo remains at the Bernabeu depends on his willingness to leave. Though Arsenal and Liverpool have also been linked to the player, Romano notes that Madrid may consider letting him go if he requests a transfer. Rodrygo is reportedly eager to win back his place under Alonso, but intense competition from players like Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr has limited his opportunities. A move to Manchester City would place him in direct contention within one of the Premier League’s most competitive squads, just as the new season gets underway.