Everton have been dealt a major blow as Manchester City prepare to offer Jack Grealish to West Ham in a stunning deal.
The move will also hand Graham Potter arguably his biggest decision yet as Hammers boss — and could shift the landscape of West Ham, Man City and Everton’s transfer windows.
While Man City have the money to get deals done quickly and efficiently for the very highest quality players on the market, Potter and David Moyes have to be a touch more patient and realistic at West Ham and Everton.
Potter and ex Hammers boss Moyes were appointed a day apart as West Ham and Everton managers back in January.
Moyes closed a nine-point gap on West Ham with the Toffees to finish above them during Potter’s six months in charge.
West Ham and Everton can’t keep transfer pace with Man City
It means the jury is still very much out on Potter – and despite winning everything in sight as a manager, Pep Guardiola has something to prove this season after Man City’s struggles last term.
All three managers have vowed to ring the changes this summer.
Man City have made a number of quality additions.
West Ham and Everton have made signings too, but not at the same rate.
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Moyes beat his former club to a reported Potter target when Everton signed Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall this week.
But now the Hammers may be put in a position to exact a measure of revenge on the Toffees over another mutual target.
Man City boss Pep Guardiola speaks with Jack Grealish on the touchline
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Because Everton have suffered a big blow as Man City offer West Ham a stunning Jack Grealish deal.
And it gives Potter arguably the biggest decision of his Hammers tenure so far.
It was reported recently that West Ham and Everton are leading the race to sign Grealish from Man City this summer.
There was some interest from Italian champions Napoli in Man City’s £100m man, who has been told he can leave after being left out of Guardiola’s Club World Cup squad.
But it is claimed Grealish wants to stay in the Premier League and is desperate to go to a club where he will be a guaranteed starter in a bid to win back his England squad place under Thomas Tuchel ahead of the World Cup at the end of the season.
It was previously reported that Potter likes Grealish and the player is open to a move to the London Stadium.
Everton blow as Man City offer West Ham stunning Grealish deal
But Everton have since looked the club most likely to sign Grealish with West Ham appearing to switch their intentions to Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey.
Hammers News warned Moyes publicly calling out Everton’s owners could give them the edge over West Ham for Grealish.
It certainly gave the Friedkin Group the ‘hurry up’ because Dewsbury-Hall arrived shortly after the Scot’s transfer rant.
Since then Potter has also pleaded for more signings, prompting an exciting response from West Ham’s owners.
Now Potter will have to make his biggest call yet after a new claim from a French journalist.
Because Sébastien Vidal, co-founder of Weekend Sports, says Man City ‘are not done yet’ in the transfer window.
And that is terrible news for Everton and Moyes.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola embraces West Ham's Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta
Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images
Guardiola wants to include Grealish in new move for Paqueta
Because the Cityzens still want to sign West Ham star Lucas Paqueta following his acquittal of spot-fixing charges – and that plan to offer Grealish in a swap deal to lower the price.
Paqueta was in the midst of being sold to Man City for £80m when the allegations against the Brazilian first emerged two years ago.
The move to Man City was even used as evidence by Paqueta’s defence during his hearing – which saw Everton boss Moyes corroborate the claim.
The subsequent saga and hearing found it could not be proven Paqueta received four bookings deliberately to influence betting markets.
As a result the 27-year-old playmaker is free to continue his career.
That has reignited speculation he could leave with West Ham desperate to raise funds due to PSR.
Man City have been linked with a new move over the last week after Guardiola previously told Paqueta he would wait for him.
Paqueta’s camp previously described the move to Man City a “dream” before it collapsed – something that was repeated at the hearing.
So it seems Paqueta would be open to the move should it be resurrected.
That’s exactly what reporter Vidal claims is happening in an exclusive.
He says Manchester City could now include Grealish in a swap deal for Paqueta after holding talks with Everton over a loan deal.
Vidal states that Man City are pushing to use the England international to lower West Ham’s asking price which is quoted at £50m – although club insiders reported it to be nearer £60-70m last week.