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Everton get mixed Jack Grealish transfer verdict as other Man City deal weighed up

Everton are going to be linked with a lot of players this summer. It would be a surprise if any triggered as much debate as Jack Grealish, though.

The Manchester City man is reportedly a target for the Blues having fallen out of favour under Pep Guardiola. Grealish looks set to be left out of the City squad for the upcoming Club World Cup, casting serious doubt over his future.

So at 29, would he be worth a punt for the Toffees? Or would it send the wrong message at the start of a new era? We asked our writers for their thoughts.

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Joe Thomas

I'm torn on this. David Moyes has spoken at length about Everton needing to aspire to better things since his return to the club. To me, it is clear he wants to live those words and I think a marquee signing would appeal to him - he knows how important momentum and excitement is to the fanbase and I think someone like Jack Grealish would bring that.

My issue here is not the player - Grealish is a star who would add real quality to the squad and could be a shortcut in the rise that Moyes wants to lead. The problem for me is the potential cost. Everton have lived this dream already. Look what happened.

The new owners and Moyes have the time, resource and experience to build for sustainable growth, the kind of development that is bigger than one player or personality.

The danger in committing to someone like Grealish, given the terms Manchester City would likely demand, is that it would take energy, money and growth away from other areas of the team. The Blues need to be bigger than one player because if and when he goes the whole system collapses.

For me, I want to see longevity in the approach. I have written this before but I would prefer Everton to pursue players like Grealish's team-mate James McAtee and create a young, hungry team that can grow together and offer sustainable progress.

If they can do that and top it off with someone like Grealish then great, but that sort of project-building should not be sacrificed for a showstopper player and I fear that would have to be the case should the Blues really want Grealish.

Paul Wheelock

A fully motivated and on-form Jack Grealish would be the best player in Everton's squad. But after becoming the darling of his beloved Aston Villa before making a £100m move to Manchester City, where he has won every major club trophy available, is the desire still there?

You would hope so. A brilliant player on his day, and by all accounts a great person off the field too, it must have stung being jettisoned by Pep Guardiola, especially in the FA Cup final, when he was left on the bench and suffered the ignominy of seeing Claudio Echeverri coming on ahead of him.

And if that didn't suggest the writing was on the wall for his City career, the fact that Grealish looks set to be left out of Guardiola's Club World Cup squad makes it abundantly clear that his time at the Etihad is up.

And, in a World Cup year, the England international desperately needs to move. But would a move to Everton be wise?

Ironically enough the Blues looked well stocked in the positions the 29-year-old best performs in. But as good asIliman Ndiaye, Dwight McNeil or Carlos Alcaraz are, Grealish at his very best is a cut above.

But will we see that Grealish again? He is a very different, albeit incredibly successful, player to the one that thrilled so much at Villa. Does that same player exist?

Because, if he does, he could be a superb addition to David Moyes' summer rebuild, although just how Everton would be able to afford even a large percentage of his astronomical City wages remains to be seen.

So there are caveats and there are questions marks. But rule it out? I don't think we can.

Matt Jones

Everton have new owners and a shiny new stadium. So the temptation would surely be there to make a splash this summer with a big-name signing too.

They should resist it on this occasion, though. Sensible signings need to be top of the agenda, not statement ones.

After all, Everton need a minimum of eight new players this summer and that's even before you consider any potential sales. There are gaps to fill up top, on the right wing, in central midfield and in both full-back positions.

Grealish has not played in any of those roles and would likely be competing with Iliman Ndiaye, Dwight McNeil or Carlos Alcaraz for a position on the left or as the most advanced attacking midfielder.

Everton obviously need depth, although in those areas of the pitch they are relatively well stocked compared to other sections of the squad.

If this is a deal the Blues can do come the end of the window when a plethora of additions have made the squad more balanced, then maybe roll the dice. If there's still space in the salary structure to accommodate a portion of Grealish's £300,000 weekly wage, then it could be worth a gamble.

But Everton need a lot of players in a lot of different positions as a necessity. Grealish, as talented as he undoubtedly is, would be a luxury.

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