Man City already have Jack Grealish replacement ready for Wolves game

Jack Grealish didn't push his Manchester City teammates hard enough but one winger has returned with the drive to force his issue

Jack Grealish is expected to leave Manchester City, with Everton interested

Jack Grealish's time at Manchester City, for now at least, has come to an end because of competition. Where he spent the Treble season keeping players out of the team with his performance levels, for the last two years the £100m signing has been giving his teammates free passes.

There was understandable frustration last year around the output of Jeremy Doku and Savinho, with both wingers struggling to turn their dribbling ability into goals and assists. However, they kept beign used in spite of this because their inconsistent approach was still better than what Grealish was offering.

"Savinho is in better shape and everything than Jack, and that's why I played Savinho [against West Ham]," Guardiola said in January.

"Do I want the Jack that won the Treble? Yeah I want it, but I try to be honest with myself for that.

"They have to fight. You can say it's unfair. OK, if you think that, then it's fine, but you have to prove [to me], 'OK, I'm going to fight with Savinho, to deserve to play in that position', every single day, every single week and every single month."

City's squad relies on everyone to push their teammates for a place in the team every week if they are going to be successful, and there certainly wasn't enough of that in the wide positions last season. Whether it is a loan or a permanent deal that is struck this summer, Grealish needs to rediscover the form and fitness to offer a challenge again.

Rayan Cherki has been signed from Lyon this summer and will offer fresh competition to Savinho and Doku, but it was also evident in the Palermo game that City have another player ready to fill Grealish's space in the squad. Oscar Bobb is determined to make his mark at the Etihad this year after a leg fracture ruined what had been a terrific pre-season in 2024.

There was an edge to Bobb at the Stadio Renzo Barbera on Saturday night, beating his man at every opportunity and snarling when he came in for a fair bit of physical treatment from opponents who thought the only way to stop him was through unfair means.

Bobb only played 45 minutes against Palermo before being one of ten changes to the team for the second half, but that was enough for him to send a reminder that he is ready to make up for lost time and be an attacking threat for Guardiola.

Having seen the level needed to force his way into the manager's plans, Bobb can offer the necessary competition that Grealish simply didn't do enough of over the last two years.

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