Man City create fresh deadline for Kyle Walker and Jack Grealish transfers

Man City create fresh deadline for Kyle Walker and Jack Grealish transfers

Manchester City players are on holiday but there is work to do to sort out some high-profile departures.

Kyle Walker and Jack Grealish

Manchester City players are taking time off following their unexpected exit from the Club World Cup. Pep Guardiola and his squad were sent packing by Al Hilal and have now turned on holiday mode for the rest of the month.

The work will not stop for the recruitment team led by Hugo Viana though. Despite four new arrivals in the first transfer window of the summer, there is a lot still to do as the Blues balance their squad out by ensuring plenty of departures.

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Aside from any numbers that need trimming from the Club World Cup squad, some of the exits with the highest profile are players who were not even selected to go to the United States. Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips all desperately need a permanent move as soon as possible after being told to find a new club.

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The situation with Phillips is more complicated because he has had surgery on an injury and will not be fit until next month at the earliest, but Grealish and Walker now have a fresh date when they will want to have sealed a move by. Guardiola and the rest of the squad will return to the City Football Academy on July 28, so it will be awkward for all concerned if they are still City players by the end of the month.

Either they will be dragged alongside a group of players they know they won't be working with for the season or they will be conspicuous by their absence. It was less noticeable when City were in the United States but once the group are back at the City Football Academy there is nowhere for Grealish or Walker to really go.

There will be just three weeks until the start of the Premier League season by that point and many other clubs will already have returned to training to prepare for the new campaign.

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Knowing that City will be back at their base this month adds impetus to the need for Grealish and Walker to sort moves out before they end up in an even stickier situation. That means work for them, and also for Viana and the recruitment team to find the best possible exit for them.

The longer it takes - especially if it runs into August - the worse it is for everyone but the ones most affected are the two players who want regular football to make the England squad for the World Cup next summer.

Holidays for many, but not for everyone.

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