Toffees keen but cautious over Grealish deal
Everton are open to bringing Jack Grealish back to Goodison Park for a second spell, though lingering doubts over the winger's fitness record are giving them pause, according to a report from The Athletic's Patrick Boyland.
The 30-year-old spent last season on loan with the Toffees, making a strong impression before a serious injury cut his campaign short. His absence was keenly felt — Everton's form dipped noticeably without him — and that experience has shaped their thinking as they weigh up whether to pursue another deal.
Complicating matters is the financial side. Grealish is entering the final 12 months of his Manchester City contract and turns 31 in September. He earns close to £15 million a year. Everton covered roughly three-quarters of that during his previous loan — a significant outlay for a player whose best years may be behind him, as Boyland puts it.
Then there's the fitness question. There is no guarantee yet on when Grealish will be fully fit or whether he'll be ready for the start of the new campaign. Everton want someone who can contribute immediately, not a player requiring weeks of rehabilitation. They are expected to play a waiting game during the final stage of his recovery before making a decision.
Everton's interest is genuine but firmly conditional. That distinction matters for City as they approach the final year of Grealish's contract. New Blues boss Enzo Maresca will assess every member of his first-team squad in pre-season, with Grealish's situation among the more delicate decisions he faces given the combination of age, wage level and fitness uncertainty.
Director of football Hugo Viana will also have a say on whether keeping Grealish through the final year of his deal or facilitating a departure better serves City's long-term interests. The salary implications of carrying a player on close to £15 million a year regardless of his involvement are not insignificant, particularly in a summer already defined by record-breaking expenditure on Anderson.
Whether Grealish's recovery timeline aligns with Everton's desire for an immediately available player, and whether the two clubs can agree terms that make financial sense, will determine if a reunion materialises or if Grealish's next chapter lies elsewhere as he enters what could be the defining year of his time at City.