Jack Grealish, who previously had a loan spell with Everton, has been excluded from Manchester City’s 28-man squad for their pre-season tour of Asia. This decision has opened the possibility for Everton to re-sign the player, particularly as he seeks regular first-team football.
Grealish’s loan to Everton was cut short in January due to a fractured foot. Despite his return to training, his absence from the pre-season tour is officially attributed to his ongoing recovery from this injury. However, some interpretations suggest this could also indicate he is not central to new manager Enzo Maresca’s plans, having reportedly fallen out of favour under former manager Pep Guardiola, which led to his loan move to Everton last August.
Grealish’s desire for first-team football
Grealish, who will turn 31 in September, has expressed a clear desire to play first-team football. This ambition appears challenging to achieve at Manchester City. His recent social media activity, including a picture of himself training at City with the caption, “Nice to see everyone, am nearly there! Hopefully not long now till back training for good,” suggests he is motivated to restart his career. Another Instagram story featured his feet, a ball, and the temperature of 31 degrees, simply captioned: “Working.”
His continued presence in the UK would simplify any potential transfer deal, including necessary steps like a medical, allowing it to be completed before the season begins. A return to the Toffees is seen as a logical step, given the care he received at Finch Farm during his injury recovery.
Moyes’s comments and Maresca’s stance
Everton manager David Moyes previously indicated his appreciation for Grealish at the end of last season. Moyes stated, “Obviously we like Jack a lot. We’ve looked after Jack all the time since his injury.” He also noted that the surgeon provided positive feedback on Grealish’s healing. Moyes added, “Normally, a player would go back to his parent club and be looked after from there, but we will continue doing our best for Jack.” He concluded by saying, “He is incredibly well liked inside and outside the building but ultimately he is not our player, he is Man City’s player. We’ve had him on loan for a year and I have to say we’ve enjoyed having him.”
Upon his unveiling as City boss, Maresca addressed Grealish’s situation, maintaining a cautious tone. He remarked, “At the moment, he’s here. He’s a Man City player.” Maresca further explained his approach to players belonging to the club: “I always said the same. In any club I join, I like to know if there are players that belong to the club. It’s my duty to try to coach them.”
Maresca highlighted his personal connection with Grealish, stating, “Jack is here. I have a good relation with Jack since I left [as a coach under Pep Guardiola]. Also, we keep in touch, and the reason why is because he has a big heart and he’s a very good guy. So this is the reason why. And then we see what happens.” The phrase “we see what happens” has been interpreted by some as an indication that Grealish could be available for transfer at an appropriate price.
Contract situation and potential transfer
Grealish joined Manchester City from Aston Villa in 2021 for a fee of £100 million. He has now entered the final 12 months of that contract. With his contract nearing its end, the potential transfer fee is expected to be significantly lower than the initial £100 million City paid. This situation could present a timely opportunity for Everton to pursue a permanent deal for the player.
Manchester City’s pre-season tour of Asia will feature three matches, with the squad traveling to Hong Kong and Seoul. Other notable players like Kalvin Phillips have also been excluded from the tour squad, with Phillips reportedly set to join Sheffield United after a loan spell there last season. Meanwhile, players such as Gianluigi Donnarumma and Phil Foden, who were not involved in the World Cup, have joined the pre-season training and tour. Several young players, including Jeremy Monga, Kaden Braithwaite, Floyd Samba, Jaden Heskey, and Ryan McAidoo, have also been included in the squad to gain experience.
Grealish’s absence from the tour and his contract situation suggest that his future at Manchester City remains uncertain as the 2026/27 season approaches.
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Source: liverpoolecho.co.uk
