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Tottenham back out from signing struggling Manchester City star; high wages a problem

Originally posted on To The Lane And Back
By Aaryan Choksi | Last updated Jun 18, 2025 2:56 PM ET

Tottenham are not pursuing a deal for Manchester City star Jack Grealish in the summer

Tottenham are already playing catch-up with other clubs in the transfer market. The Lilywhites had the perfect opportunity to start the summer right by bringing in new players just in time for pre-season. But the managerial situation at N17 stood in the club’s way of proceeding with any new signings as Daniel Levy did not want to bring in a new player without knowing who the manager was going to be.

Due to this, Spurs have still not done any business in the transfer market, while other top clubs are signing players left, right, and centre. There is tension around N17 that Thomas Frank is being set up to fail at N17 by Daniel Levy, as the North London club looks to miss out on its intended targets each week.

There is a clear need for a massive squad overhaul in the summer. But the Lilywhites have still not sold any of its underperforming players to generate funds for new signings. The dismal Premier League campaign that Spurs endured has also forced Daniel Levy to adopt the ‘sell-to-buy’ policy heading into next season.

Tottenham will not sign Man City star Jack Grealish in the summer

There is a clear need to bring in a new left-winger in the summer for Tottenham. With Heung-Min Son heading towards a slow decline and facing an uncertain future at N17, Daniel Levy must bring in a quality replacement for next season to fill the void left behind by the South Korea international.

It was reported earlier that Spurs were interested in signing Jack Grealish from Manchester City. The Lilywhites had expressed a desire to make the England international a priority signing in the summer as they looked to address the attacking problems. The aforementioned report also suggested that Grealish was open to move to N17.

However, there is a new update regarding the transfer saga involving the Man City star. As per TBR Football, Spurs have decided to leave the race to sign the 29-year-old in the summer. The Lilywhites believe that Jack Grealish’s salary demands are too high, and the North London club will be forced to break the wage budget to afford him. The ex-Villa star’s age is also considered as one of the reasons why Tottenham are not pursing a deal to sign him.

It is fair to say that Spurs have dodged a bullet by not signing Jack Grealish. The Manchester City star has not showed his true potential since making a high-profile switch to the Etihad Stadium in 2021. The 29-year-old is lacking confidence and has lost his way under Pep Guardiola. Bringing him to N17 would have costed a lot, and it would have been a case of ‘hope’, rather than ‘certainty.’

Now, Daniel Levy must shift his focus on signing other players that might do the same job as Grealish. It was reported earlier that Spurs are interested in signing Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth as they look to bolster the attack for next season. The Ghana international is keen to head for pastures new in the summer, and it is believed that the Lilywhites are leading the race to land him.

This article first appeared on To The Lane And Back and was syndicated with permission.

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