Development: Newcastle and PIF have made approach to sign £300k/wk Champions League winner

The Magpies have made their first concrete move for Manchester City’s Champions League-winning winger Jack Grealish, according to emerging reports, as Eddie Howe looks to add proven quality to his attacking options.

Newcastle’s formal enquiry about the England international signals their ambition to compete with Everton and Napoli for the 29-year-old’s signature, presenting an intriguing dilemma for the player as he weighs his next career move.

Grealish finds himself at a career crossroads after falling out of favor at the Etihad, his exclusion from Pep Guardiola’s Club World Cup squad serving as the clearest indication yet that his time with the champions may be ending.

Despite collecting every major honor during his three seasons with City – including last year’s historic treble – the £100 million man has struggled to consistently replicate the electrifying form that made him Aston Villa’s talisman. Now, Newcastle offer an enticing opportunity for rejuvenation at a club on the rise.

For Grealish, the priorities are clear: regular first-team football to secure his England place ahead of the 2026 World Cup, and Champions League participation to maintain his status among Europe’s elite.

Newcastle can provide both, along with the passionate home support that could help rediscover the swashbuckling version that terrorized Premier League defenses during his Villa days.

While his City statistics – 17 goals in 157 appearances – underwhelm, the Magpies’ hierarchy believe a change of scenery could unlock his undoubted talent.

The financial aspects of any potential deal present complexities. Grealish’s reported £300,000 weekly wages would smash Newcastle’s current salary structure, requiring creative negotiation to avoid disrupting dressing room harmony.

However, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Randal Kolo Muani also on their radar, the Saudi-backed owners appear willing to flex their financial muscle to provide Howe with genuine firepower.

Grealish’s potential arrival would send shockwaves through the Premier League, signaling Newcastle’s intent to bridge the gap to the traditional ‘Big Six’.

His big-game experience – including 12 Champions League appearances and a World Cup final – would prove invaluable for a squad still acclimatizing to European football’s highest level.

The winger’s ability to retain possession under pressure and draw fouls in dangerous areas could also provide a different dimension to Newcastle’s attacking play.

Former scout Mick Brown’s endorsement of the move carries weight: “Everybody knows about Jack’s qualities when he’s at his best.” This sentiment echoes Pep Guardiola’s own praise during preseason, where he highlighted Grealish’s training intensity and aggressive attacking intent.

Such attributes could thrive under Howe’s management style, which encourages creative expression within a disciplined framework.

However, legitimate questions remain about whether Grealish can recapture the form that once made him the Premier League’s most fouled player and prompted David Moyes to label him the division’s best. At 29, he theoretically enters his prime years, but must prove his recent struggles stem from systemic factors at City rather than diminishing abilities.

Newcastle’s interest comes amid lingering uncertainty over Alexander Isak’s future, with Liverpool reportedly monitoring the Swedish striker.

Even if Isak stays, additional attacking quality is essential for a squad competing on multiple fronts. Grealish’s versatility to operate across the frontline or as a number ten would provide Howe with valuable tactical flexibility.

The coming weeks will reveal whether Newcastle’s enquiry develops into a formal offer, and whether Grealish views Tyneside as the ideal stage for his career revival.

With Napoli offering Serie A football and Everton potentially providing a Midlands homecoming, the decision may hinge on which project most captivates a player needing to remind the football world of his extraordinary talents.

For Newcastle, securing Grealish would represent both a statement signing and a calculated gamble – the type of bold move that could accelerate their ascent to English football’s summit.