Foden is an academy graduate, Bernardo was signed firstly as a wing option (with ageing D. Silva in mind), Rodri was signed as Fernandinho’s replacement. Gundogan was the only one who was signed as a squad option – it was after a career-changing injury and for 27 mil.
We have 2 definite starters in midfield aged 25 (Bruno) and 27 (Pogba) respectively. On the left wing (or even generally as a part of a front three), which is Grealish’s alternative position, we have 22 y.o. Rashford, 24 y.o. Martial and you can add 18 y.o. Greenwood & hopefully 20 y.o. Sancho. Those are, literally, our 5 (with another one in mind) most talented players, by far.
I’d love for us to have Grealish as an alternative option, don’t get me wrong. But we have glaring holes in our team – center back, defensive midfielde as Matić’s understudy/replacement, left back, maybe even goalkeeper... we can’t afford to spend 80 mil on a player who, with everyone being fit and in form, is going to sit on the bench (without any ageing starter to potentially replace). I’m also not sure if he would like that option himself. He’s not a youth prospect (like Foden) that can settle for a part-time role with a hope of breaking through some day. He’s approaching his physical peak and he’d want to play as much as possible – and he is good enough to demand that.