The summer transfer window has ignited fresh speculation about Jack Grealish’s future, with Everton emerging as a leading contender to secure the Manchester City star’s services on a season-long loan. The 29-year-old England international, once a £100 million signing from Aston Villa, has seen his role diminish at the Etihad Stadium, prompting talks between the Toffees and City. Former Villa teammate and pundit Gabby Agbonlahor has weighed in, suggesting the conditions Manchester City might demand to facilitate Grealish’s departure, while warning that Everton’s current squad could frustrate the winger’s ambitions. As negotiations unfold, Grealish’s next move could be pivotal for his career, especially with the 2026 World Cup looming.
Everton, under manager David Moyes, have initiated discussions with Manchester City, focusing on a loan deal without a buy option. The Toffees see Grealish as a transformative addition to their attack, which struggled for goals last season. Moyes, keen to bolster squad depth, believes Grealish’s flair and Premier League experience could revitalize Everton’s fortunes at their new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium. However, the deal is complex, primarily due to Grealish’s £300,000-a-week wages, which pose a significant hurdle. Everton are willing to cover a portion of his salary, but negotiations hinge on City’s willingness to subsidize the remainder, a point Agbonlahor emphasized as critical. “I think with the wages that he’s on, and a club like Everton, there’s going to have to be a lot of negotiations with City and what they pay towards his wages,” Agbonlahor said on talkSPORT, highlighting the financial intricacies of the potential transfer.
Grealish’s limited game time at City—seven Premier League starts in the 2024-25 season—has fueled speculation about his exit. Despite winning three Premier League titles, the Champions League, and the FA Cup since joining City in 2021, Grealish has slipped behind Phil Foden, Savinho, Jeremy Doku, Kevin De Bruyne, and Bernardo Silva in Pep Guardiola’s pecking order. His omission from City’s Club World Cup squad and the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace underscored his reduced role. Guardiola, however, has defended his commitment to Grealish, stating last season, “I’m the person who fought for him to come here and the person who fought for him to stay here this season and the next season. I’m the one who said I want Jack Grealish.” Yet, with his contract running until 2027, City’s openness to a loan suggests a pragmatic approach to managing their wage bill and squad dynamics.
Agbonlahor, a vocal supporter of Grealish, has urged the winger to prioritize regular football to revive his England career, especially after being overlooked by Gareth Southgate for the 2024 Euros and Thomas Tuchel’s early squads. “He should look at it as a World Cup year. Can I go on loan somewhere where the team is going to play to my strengths?” Agbonlahor suggested, proposing that Grealish seek a club where he can thrive in a number 10 or left-wing role. However, he expressed skepticism about Everton, noting, “Everton… I think it could be frustrating if they don’t improve that squad. And in pre-season, they’ve been terrible.” Instead, Agbonlahor advocated for Tottenham, citing their Champions League football and attacking style under potential new manager Thomas Frank as a “no-brainer” for Grealish.
Everton face competition from Napoli, who see Grealish as a long-term replacement for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Tottenham, where James Maddison’s ACL injury has heightened interest. Former Everton defender Alan Stubbs revealed he personally lobbied Grealish during a chance meeting in Marbella, saying, “I tried my best to get him to Everton. I was telling him how much he’d be loved.” Stubbs believes Everton could help Grealish rediscover the freedom he enjoyed at Villa, where he was a maverick playmaker before Guardiola’s system reshaped his game.
Grealish’s determination to regain form is evident. He’s been working with a personal trainer to ensure peak condition, a move Agbonlahor praised: “I know for a fact he has been working so hard this summer, fitness coaches, personal trainers.” His lone Premier League goal last season came against Leicester City in April, with a penalty against Salford City in the FA Cup marking his first club goal in over a year. Despite his struggles, Grealish’s emotional connection to City shone through at an Oasis gig in Manchester, where he expressed his love for the club, though some fans speculated his candidness reflected frustration with his situation.
For Everton, signing Grealish would be a statement of intent, but Agbonlahor’s caution about squad quality raises questions. With Dwight McNeil and Iliman Ndiaye as their primary wingers, Everton need creativity, but Grealish’s high wages and the club’s PSR constraints complicate matters. City’s demands—likely a significant wage contribution and possibly a loan fee—will test Everton’s resolve. As talks progress, Grealish faces a career-defining decision: stay and fight at City or embrace a fresh start to reclaim his status as one of England’s most dynamic talents.
Leave a Reply