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Manchester City midfielder Jack Grealish may have to leave this summer with “the writing on the wall” for him, says their former goalkeeper Shay Given.

Grealish, 29, was a British record signing when he joined Pep Guardiola’s side from Aston Villa for £100m in 2021.

The England international has won three Premier League titles, the Champions League and FA Cup with City but has fallen down the pecking order this season.

Grealish has only started 16 times this season in all competitions, and has been on the pitch for 1, 520 minutes – fewer than half the amount he played in the 2022-23 season when City won the Champions League.

He was an unused substitute as Crystal Palace won the FA Cup final last weekend, while he also did not get on the pitch when City were beaten at Wembley by rivals Manchester United in 2024.

Grealish’s future at Etihad Stadium is unclear heading into the summer, with a growing sense that he would benefit from a move before next season.

There is likely to be interest from clubs across Europe in a player who may be attracted by the idea of a fresh start at a top club who could provide him with regular football.

It remains to be seen whether his reported £300, 000-per-week wages will prove prohibitive towards any potential move away.

“I have a soft spot for Jack Grealish and the way he is being treated is not on”, former City keeper Given, who played alongside Grealish at Villa, told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Monday Night Club.

“He’s not helped himself at times but he is a generational talent that you want to build your team around.

” That’s back-to-back FA Cup finals where you need a goal and you don’t use him. At the weekend City brought on Claudio Echeverri who made his debut instead.

“Jack is an international, a multiple winner, it was criminal he didn’t get on the pitch. The writing is on the wall. I don’t know why Pep even brought him to London. He may as well have stayed at home.

” When he plays, he’s a mannequin on the wing and just told to keep the shape. Kevin de Bruyne is leaving in the summer and Jack Grealish is the perfect replacement to play in the middle but after what has happened, he maybe won’t play for the club again.

“For his career, he has to see what is out there. With plenty of years to go, he has an amazing talent.

For the first time since Guardiola’s first season in charge in 2016-17, City will finish without a major trophy following a defeat in the FA Cup final.

Sixth place in the Premier League’s final two games, they could not win the Champions League the following year.

Guardiola says talks will be held between the player’s representatives, his successor Hugo Viana, and Txiki Begiristain, who will be retiring.

Guardiola said, “We didn’t talk; I didn’t talk to him.” “People don’t believe me, but these things belong to Txiki, the agents, and Hugo in this case.” Both parties will decide.

He must return to begin playing minutes once more, but what will happen will happen.

“It’s not just Jack,” he said. Not one locker room player is happy when they don’t play, and I don’t think there are any in all the locker rooms around the world.

The team must figure out how everything works when they are winning and winning, but they are unhappy.

Kevin de Bruyne, according to Pep Guardiola, is the “second-best” passer he has worked with after Lionel Messi, an excellent Argentine midfielder.

Guardiola ranks the departing Belgian in high regard, ahead of players like Xavi and Andres Iniesta at Barcelona and former City midfielder David Silva.

De Bruyne made the announcement last month that he would leave City when his contract expires at the end of the season. On Tuesday, his final home game will be against Bournemouth (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Guardiola praised him as “one of the best three” he has ever seen, saying it would be difficult to find another player who could pass the ball like De Bruyne before quickly changing his mind.

Guardiola remarked, “One is Messi.” “And the other two, please allow me to think about it.” “OK, let me put Kevin second.”

He continued, “Messi is the best I have ever seen because Kevin is present but Messi is very close to the box.” Just the talent and stats, goals, and assists that he gives the team in the final third.

Under Guardiola, the Belgian has 258 league games played, scoring 0. 5 assists and creating 3. 6 chances per 90 minutes, which is higher than Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, and Silva.

His passing accuracy of 82.4% is among the five players, but it could be due to the final third of his passes being played riskier in an effort to unlock defenses.

De Bruyne’s City days are coming to an end, according to BBC Sport, but the club is still looking for a creative midfielder, with Morgan Gibbs-White being one of the options.

Guardiola responded when asked if De Bruyne would be difficult to replace: “We all know that there are players who are really, really difficult for a variety of reasons.

De Bruyne will leave City on Tuesday for his final home game against Bournemouth.

De Bruyne did not say whether De Bruyne would face the Cherries, but Guardiola said, “Kevin will get what he deserves.” His incredible trajectory deserves the best compliment, in my opinion.

It would not have been possible without Sheikh Mansour taking the club to a higher level because of what he has accomplished with other legendary players.

He will be given a guard of honor from team-mates at full-time during the final game at Etihad Stadium.

De Bruyne will make a brief speech on the field before evoking his gratitude with the other players as they receive gifts from their late club legend, Colin Bell, and then take them on a lap of applause.

De Bruyne’s final game for the club is likely to be against Fulham on Sunday (16:00 BST), which is likely to be his final one.