A senior West Ham insider has poured cold water on talk of Jack Grealish joining the club on loan this summer, with co-owner David Sullivan personally dismissing the possibility.

His comments come after earlier rumours linked the Manchester City midfielder with a potential loan move to east London.

Sullivan’s Remarks Cast Doubt on Grealish Interest

As seen on X via @westhamcentral, Sullivan was blunt in response to the speculation: “I doubt it, he is not the player he was two to three years ago.”

According to West Ham Central, the quote comes from Claret and Hugh, attributed to their senior source, the same individual often cited by both C&H and ExWHUEmployee.

Sullivan’s sharp assessment puts the brakes on recent reports suggesting that new boss Graham Potter was open to bringing in Grealish if financial conditions could be met.

Some whispers pointed to Grealish possibly being on board with the move too, drawn by the chance for more minutes on the pitch. But Sullivan’s words suggest the club’s hierarchy isn’t seriously considering a move, at least not in its current shape.

Graham Potter’s Reported Admiration for Grealish

Despite Sullivan’s stance, outlets like TheWestHamWay have mentioned that Potter is a long-time admirer of Grealish’s on-ball creativity and drive. That made the idea of a loan deal a topic of interest early in the summer, especially if West Ham could negotiate wages or a favourable structure with City.

Grealish was reportedly not against a temporary switch if it meant regular football, but his salary at the Etihad remains a major stumbling block.

Grealish’s Mixed Form Since City Switch

After joining Manchester City for a record £100 million from Aston Villa in 2021, Grealish has lifted major trophies but hasn’t consistently delivered on the expectations tied to that price tag. His output has dipped compared to his peak days at Villa, where he racked up 6 goals and 12 assists in a single Premier League season.

Limited starts and tactical rigidity under Pep Guardiola have made it tough for the midfielder to find his stride.

West Ham Still Chasing Attacking Talent

While Grealish now looks an unlikely arrival, West Ham are continuing their search for attacking reinforcements. The club is rebuilding following the £55 million sale of Mohammed Kudus to Tottenham, and the need for final third creativity remains front and centre in the club’s plans.

There had been some excitement online at the thought of Grealish lining up with Jarrod Bowen, a pairing that could have offered flair and balance going forward. But for now, that ambition appears firmly on ice.

Wages Make Move Unfeasible

Truthfully, Grealish’s wages have made this deal feel far-fetched from the start. City would need to subsidise a large portion of his salary, and West Ham simply aren’t built to carry a wage of that size without major offloading or financial juggling.

Now, with David Sullivan speaking out publicly, any suggestion of a loan move for Grealish seems to have been shut down at the top level. As it stands, fans hoping to see him in claret and blue will likely have to move on.

In other West Ham transfer news, Kyle-Walker Peters is set to join the hammers with his medical booked in for today.