Jack Grealish will leave Manchester City this summer after becoming surplus to Pep Guardiola’s requirements and his next move could define a career which is in danger of falling way short of what once appeared to be an unlimited ceiling.
The Birmingham-born attacking midfielder first hit prominence with boyhood club Aston Villa and nobly stuck with them when they were relegated from the Premier League to help them return to the top flight.
He was club captain before moving to City four years ago in a £100million deal which made him the most expensive English player ever, since surpassed by Declan Rice following his switch from West Ham to Arsenal.
Despite early indications he was primed to blossom under Guardiola’s guidance and playing a key role in their Treble-winning season, jaunty Jack found it increasingly difficult to command a regular position in the starting line-up at the Etihad Stadium and last season he played in just 20 Premier League games, scoring once and providing a solitary assist.
Grealish was a notable absentee from the City squad which featured in the Club World Cup and is free to find another club to help him rebuild his career.
A return to Villa at 11/4 with bet365 would be the ideal solution while West Ham have been linked with the fallen star, who turns 30 in September, and a move to London’s East End is 14/1 with the same firm.
Newcastle could use some of the £150m they are expected to rake in from their reluctant sale of Sweden striker Alexander Isak to Liverpool, to potentially appease fans with an eye-catching move for Grealish at the same odds with Ladbrokes and Coral while Tottenham, who were close to signing him before he went to City, could make a move at 20/1 with bet365.
They missed out on Morgan Gibbs-White when it appeared they were only a medical away from springing the £60million release clause in his Nottingham Forest contract and Grealish could provide the flair required in their attack.
Serie A champions Napoli would love Grealish to ply his undoubted skills in Italy and are 8/1 with bet365 but it is likely he will stay in England although the same odds with the same firm that he remains at City look well wide of the mark.
Toffees are favourites
Everton are the market leaders to land the 34-cap England international as they start the new season in their luxurious new home.
Toffees manager David Moyes is apparently keen to build his side Grealish, who would relish the opportunity of a free role as he orchestrates play from their midfield.
The sticking point for City may be the Toffees’ desire to take him on loan but he is currently 2/1 with William Hill, Ladbrokes, Coral and Betfred to be an Everton player next term.
Horse racing odds
Punters will whistling a merry tune and dancing around Glorious Goodwood when Sing Us A Song wins the opener on day two at the festival on the beautiful Sussex course.
Ralph Beckett’s runner won a decent handicap at Sandown at the end of April but blew his chance of victory on the big stage after making a slow start in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot. A decent exit from the stalls on the South Downs, where he won last September, should see Sing Us A Song emerge triumphant at 5/2 with bet365.
Jabaara was first home in the Oak Tree Stakes 12 months ago but lost his place due to interference and the Musselburgh winner two races ago can be a major player this time around at 11/2 with William Hill while Dickensian is quicker than Oliver Twist in the race for second helpings and can be first past the post in the Molecomb five furlong dash at 8/1 with bet365.
Irish 200 Guineas and St James Palace Stakes, Royal Ascot winner Field of Gold is the heavy odds-on favourite to win the Sussex Stakes. But in the week Happy Gilmore 2 is released it would be fitting if Carl Spackler, named after the crazy groundsman played by Bill Murray in the superior Caddyshack, ran strongly.
Twice triumphant at Keeneland and once at Saratoga in the United States before moving to his current yard in Australia, he ran too freely in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot but should do much better here and is nailed on at 18/4 to finish in the top four with bet365.
Greyhound odds
Proper Heiress is the king of Hove over 515metres and our 2/1 ante-post selection is odds-on to win Saturday’s Sussex Cup final at the seaside track after winning his heat and semi-final with ease. Derby semi-finalist Slick Sentinel is well drawn in trap six and can be second home to land a 5/1 forecast with sponsors Coral.
