Man City face fresh conundrum as clear transfer trend emerges

James McAtee has plenty of options to consider as he prepares to part ways with Manchester City. Whether he wants to stay in the Premier League, move to the Bundesliga or head to Serie A, he can pick his next move carefully.

For Jack Grealish, the story is a little bit different. He is also on his way out at the Etihad this summer, but the queue of suitors doesn't seem quite as long.

Both players' situations have nuances, but in many ways, McAtee and Grealish's fortunes highlight the most pronounced change in the transfer market in recent years: age has become more important than ever.

In an era when spending regulations are tighter than ever, particularly the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), clubs are focusing more on the age profile of their new recruits. There is a keener eye on how long those contracts will last and how hard it is getting to shift players who are 30 and over.

Instead, clubs now want to sign younger players, where the resale value can remain reasonably high even if things don't go to plan, and wages can often be lower. That is one of the key differences between McAtee and Grealish. The latter is on a much higher salary at City and unless a loan deal is agreed, that will be putting off prospective interested parties.

The biggest difference is in their CVs. McAtee is 22 and a player of great promise, but alongside 75 appearances on loan at Sheffield United, there are 34 games for Manchester City, of which only nine are starts and only three are in the Premier League.

He could be a bargain for a fee of around £25million. He captained England Under-21s to glory this summer, and if he plays regularly at his next club, the resale value could be sizeable. The Bundesliga is making a