EXCLUSIVE: Former Everton captain Alan Stubbs has been discussing the prospect of on-loan Manchester City star Jack Grealish returning to Hill Dickinson Stadium next season
Former Everton captain Alan Stubbs wants to see Jack Grealish back with the Blues next season, despite the on-loan Manchester City star being seemingly ruled out for the remainder of the current campaign through injury.
Having been snapped up by David Moyes last August, Grealish received the first Premier League Player of the Month award of his career in the week of his 30th birthday after providing four assists in his first two starts. He then followed that up with Hill Dickinson Stadium’s first stoppage time winner in the 2-1 comeback victory over Crystal Palace and Everton’s first Premier League success over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
However, after helping the Blues to arguably their best result of the season, a 1-0 triumph at his home city club Aston Villa who had won their previous 11 home games and where he played from the age of six until becoming the first £100million English footballer when moving to the Etihad Stadium in 2021, it was revealed that Grealish had suffered a major injury setback and he has subsequently undergone surgery for a stress fracture in his left foot.
Lifelong Evertonian Stubbs, who joined his beloved Blues aged 29 and made 193 appearances, scoring seven goals across two spells, went on the charm offensive last summer to try and persuade Grealish to join Moyes’ men while on holiday.
Speaking in August, he told talkSPORT: “To be honest, I had a night out with Jack in the summer over in Marbella. I tried my best to get him to Everton.
“I was telling him how much he’d be loved. He’d be an idol at Everton, the fans would really take to him.”
After his wish came true, the 54-year-old from Kirkby insists he’d have no hesitations about taking the Brummie ace back. Stubbs told the ECHO: “Personally, I’d go back in again for Jack in the summer. It would all depend on the price with what Manchester City are wanting.
“We know he’d have 12 months left on his Manchester City contract and I wouldn’t have a problem with Everton doing another loan. I think Jack Grealish brings a lot to the football club, not just in terms of his performances but in terms of the attraction of other players as well.
“I think it’s where Everton want to be. It would be a real plus when it comes to trying to bring other players in, so for me it’s a bit of a no-brainer.”
The former centre-back, who was speaking courtesy of Casino Groups, added: “If Everton can do a deal and Jack’s wages reflect that and come down, I wouldn’t be averse to Everton buying him either. Obviously, it would all depend on the fee.
“If not, we know that Jack has loved his time at Everton. We know how he feels about the manager, he’s posted on social media about how good David Moyes has been with him.
“Also, there’s the factor of the fans. They’ve really taken to him, and they love Jack Grealish as an individual and I think that’s reciprocated back from him to the fans as he’s been really appreciative of being loved again and talking of love, I’d love to see Jack Grealish in an Everton shirt for another 12 months.”
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