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David Moyes would revive£100m man at Everton - but transfer can't happen

Former Everton winger Pat Nevin has been discussing his former club's reported interest in Manchester City and England man Jack Grealish

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Everton's Scottish manager David Moyes reacts during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Everton at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on May 25, 2025. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Everton's Scottish manager David Moyes reacts during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Everton at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on May 25, 2025. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Only a handful of people at Everton will know for certain. But that will not stop the speculation from swirling about the identity of the new players arriving at the Hill Dickinson Stadium this summer.

One thing that is for certain, though, is that there will be a lot of them. After all, as it stands just 14 senior players will be under contract come July 1 - and two of them, star centre-backs James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite, are currently recovering from injuries.

Another defender will need to be brought in if Michael Keane leaves on a free transfer and the same applies to a new forward if Dominic Calvert-Lewin also says goodbye to the Blues come the end of this month.

A new right-back is certainly required, as is a left-back to provide cover and competition for Vitalii Mykolenko, while at least one or potentially two new central-midfielders are needed, especially with Idrissa Gueye yet to sign the new contract that has been offered to him.

Throw in the fact that Everton, for some time now, have been crying out for a right-winger, and then the scale of the task facing David Moyes and the club's new-look recruitment team clear becomes clear.

In fact the only position the Blues look well stocked in is attacking midfielder - or attacking midfielders who play more to the left, as favoured by Iliman Ndiaye, Dwight McNeil and Carlos Alcaraz, who remains the club's sole signing of the summer so far after his impressive spell on loan in the second half of last season.

It's perhaps curious, then, to see Everton linked with a move for Manchester City and England star Jack Grealish.

Now there is no questioning his talent, or his medal collection following his £100m switch to City in the summer of 2021 from his beloved Aston Villa.

But there is also no question that Grealish, now 29 and completely out of favour at the Etihad, no longer operates in the same thrilling and carefree way he did at Villa Park.

Or at least he no longer does at City.

Pat Nevin, however, believes that player could be unleashed by Moyes at the Blues' magnificent new home if he does make the move from Manchester to Merseyside.

But the popular pundit, who made more than 100 appearances for Everton during his playing days, fears it will not happen and has explained why.

Speaking to Spin Genie, who offer the latest jackpot slots, Nevin said: “Signing Jack Grealish will be a difficult one, financially, for Everton, but it's a great time for the club.

“It's almost a fresh start with David Moyes returning, many players leaving, creating space and, of course, entering the new stadium. It's an extraordinary time to support Everton.

“Paying crazy money will prove difficult, but if they can work out a deal to bring Jack to the club, then I'd back David Moyes to get him firing again. I would love to see him work and flourish under David Moyes.

“Jack Grealish should actually be the future because, with the way teams play following Pep Guardiola's influence, everything was about passing, but that is changing thankfully.

“We've just seen Paris Saint-Germain win the Champions League by going all-out attack, which is completely Grealish's style.

“If he finds a manager and someone who won't care about him losing the ball and just wants him to create chances and take risks, like David Moyes, we will see the old Jack Grealish return.

“Jack needs to go to a team where he is a big fish and will see the majority of the ball and create chances, as opposed to being a small cog and having limited opportunities.

“That would mean taking a step down from one of the elite clubs and dropping to a mid-table Premier League club.

“But it would be a difficult deal to do for Everton and after losing Abdoulaye Doucoure, I think they need to prioritise adding power to their midfield again.

“A move for Grealish is a lovely thought but I'm not sure it will happen."

Doucoure was the go-to option for Sean Dyche and his successor Moyes despite not being blessed with the same kind of creative attributes as Ndiaye, McNeil and Alcaraz.

But that did not stop the Mali international, who has left the club at the end of his contract, from being a vitally important player.

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