Everton are considering a move for Manchester City winger Jack Grealish, with David Moyes' side keen on a loan deal, but the Etihad outcast has history with the Toffees
Jack Grealish talking to Jordan Pickford
Jack Grealish has enjoyed fiery clashes against Everton(Image: 2024 Simon Stacpoole/Offside)
Everton are eyeing up a loan move for Jack Grealish this summer as Manchester City seek to offload their record signing.
However, if the Toffees manage to secure his signature, it could lead to an interesting situation that David Moyes will need to monitor closely.
Grealish, 29, joined Pep Guardiola's squad in 2021 when City shelled out £100m to Aston Villa for the England international on a six-year deal.
However, the midfielder has struggled to live up to expectations and now finds himself surplus to requirements at the Etihad after two lacklustre seasons.
Everton are keen on bringing Grealish to Goodison Park on loan, but it won't be a cheap deal. City are eager to recover most of the player's hefty £300,000-a-week salary, meaning any club interested would have to fork out nearly £12m to secure his services. Despite the financial commitment, David Moyes' side remain undeterred.
However, Everton are happy to wait and see how the transfer window develops before deciding whether to make a serious offer.
Grealish is currently training with City and could still stay at the Etihad while the Merseyside club ponder whether to act on their manager's interest, reports the Mirror.
There's also the potential for some tension should Grealish join Everton, given past incidents. In December 2023, Grealish had a rocky start with some of Everton's players, particularly after a challenging encounter with defender Nathan Patterson.
Jack Grealish looking back at Everton players
Jack Grealish has had feisty encounters against Everton in the past
The pair had a tense exchange that nearly escalated into a physical confrontation as Patterson declined to shake Grealish's hand, instead pushing him and pointing a finger at him.
At the end of the match, the City midfielder sought out referee John Brooks to voice his grievances and notably avoided shaking hands with Michael Keane and James Tarkowski. Visibly irate, the ex-Villa star had to be escorted towards the tunnel.
After a challenging season with limited playtime at City, Grealish was advised by England manager Thomas Tuchel to seek a move if he wants to secure a spot in the squad for next summer's World Cup.
Kyle Walker, Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish and Jeremy Dokulift the Premier League trophy after the Premier League match between Manchester City and West Ham United at Etihad Stadium on May 19, 2024 in Manchester, England.
The Englishman will be keen to return to the England squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup
Regular game time will be essential for the hopeful player. Tuchel said: "So is he a player who can be available and have an impact in our squad? Yes – 100 per cent. But lately he simply has no rhythm, and he knows that himself.
"I think Jack gets better and better the more minutes he plays. He has the character to be the glue in a team, it is easy for youngsters to attach to him."