What now for Jack at key point in career?

JACK Grealish is always a talking point.

- SIMON BAJKOWSKI, JOE BRAY, RICHARD CUSACK AND JACK FLINTHAM

The first British player to cost a nine-figure sum receives some of the biggest cheers of anyone in the Manchester City squad at grounds up and down the country...and the biggest boos while the game is on.

His price-tag and reputation puts more scrutiny on his game, and there are fresh questions to answer after his poor form for the Blues saw him left out of an England squad that has now, somehow, reached the semi-finals of the European Championship.

With gossip that he could be leaving City failing to go away despite all sensible signs pointing towards him staying at the club, our writers look at what Grealish and the club will be thinking at a crucial point in his career at the Etihad.

SIMON BAJKOWSKI: Jack Grealish is obviously staying at City this season, where he is effectively auditioning for his future. Pep Guardiola is prepared to continue with the forward because he knows how good he can be, but if there has still only been one good season at the end of his fourth year at the Etihad then City will not be as keen to keep him.

As well as the fact City aren't looking to sell him, one of the reasons he was never going anywhere this summer was because of the value he still has. Arsenal are one of a few clubs that could afford him, but their interest appears to have been either misinterpreted or manufactured from an opinion piece on a website rather than backed by any actual news or facts.

Once again, the question comes up of how you would replace a City player if they were to leave, and once again it is difficult. Grealish brings such rare qualities to the team with his performances that Guardiola pushed for his £100m release clause to be broken in 2021 because he could not see the same talent elsewhere.