Atletico Madrid are preparing for complicated negotiations to sign Manchester City winger Jack Grealish, in what could become one of the most ambitious and difficult deals of the summer transfer window.
The 30-year-old England international is reportedly no longer part of the plans of Manchester City’s new manager, Enzo Maresca, after returning from a loan spell at Everton. That has opened the possibility of a permanent departure from the Etihad Stadium, although Atletico face major financial obstacles before they can make a formal move.
The Sun reports that Grealish has emerged as a target for the Spanish club, who are assessing whether they can structure a deal that would make his arrival financially viable.
Simeone gives approval
Atletico’s sporting director, Mateo Alemany, has secured the approval of manager Diego Pablo Simeone to pursue the transfer. Simeone reportedly believes Grealish would suit his team’s football and could operate on the left wing, help connect midfield and attack, and provide greater technical quality in the final third.
The potential move forms part of Alemany’s wider plan to build a squad capable of challenging for major honours again. Atletico experienced a disappointing campaign, having been eliminated by Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final, losing in the Champions League semi-finals and saying an early farewell to the La Liga title race.
After completing deals for Alejandro Grimaldo, Morten Hjulmand and Kang-in Lee, Alemany is now considering Grealish as his next major acquisition. The club see the England winger as a player who could address the shortcomings that prevented a promising season from becoming a trophy-filled one.
Financial hurdles
The central difficulty is the cost of completing the transfer. Manchester City signed Grealish from Aston Villa in the summer of 2021 for €117.5m, and the size of his contract could make it particularly difficult for the player to leave the club.
Atletico have not yet decided whether to submit an official offer. Alemany must first find a way through the financial demands attached to the deal, with a loan, an option to buy or an agreement to share Grealish’s salary among the possible solutions.
Any arrangement would need to satisfy both clubs while allowing Atletico to avoid carrying the full cost of the player’s wages and transfer value immediately.
Competition for Grealish
Atletico are also facing competition for the winger’s signature. Everton and Aston Villa are monitoring his situation closely, while clubs from the Saudi Pro League and Major League Soccer could offer substantially greater financial terms.
That leaves Atletico needing to persuade Grealish that their sporting project is the right next step in his career. The club can point to the prospect of Champions League football and the possibility of a leading role in Simeone’s team, but Alemany will need considerable negotiating skill to make the proposal attractive.
Alemany, who is from the Balearic Islands, has developed a reputation as a specialist in complicated negotiations and in finding opportunities towards the end of transfer windows.
If Manchester City decide they are willing to release Grealish but fail to receive an offer they consider satisfactory, Atletico may choose to wait for the right moment to act. The Spanish club’s hopes could therefore depend not only on their own financial planning, but also on how the market develops as the window approaches its conclusion.
