Everton will look to strike another loan deal with Manchester City for Jack Grealish which would include an option to sign the winger permanently.
Grealish’s season at Everton ended in mid-January when he was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his foot. The injury required surgery that will keep him out until pre-season.
The 30-year-old had been an important performer up to that point for his manager David Moyes, who was pivotal in persuading the England international to join Everton for the season last summer.
There is a desire at Everton — and they believe on the side of the player — for Grealish to remain at the club next season, which would require a new deal to be struck with City.
Grealish has one year remaining on a contract at the Etihad understood to be worth in excess of £350,000 a week and, with the player seemingly not wanted, City are not in a strong position to demand a fee given the size of his wages.
A £50million option to buy Grealish was included by City in the existing loan arrangement, but that valuation was placed upon him for accounting purposes. City paid Aston Villa £100million for him in 2021.
Everton committed about £12million to cover the bulk of Grealish’s terms for this campaign and another loan agreement would allow City to make a significant saving.
City do not appear to want to keep Grealish and have a chance to get his significant wages off their booksGeorge Wood/Getty Images
Grealish would then be out of contract at the end of the 2026-27 season, but Everton would want an option in place that would enable a permanent contract to be triggered if all parties were happy.
The arrival of Grealish raised Everton’s profile last summer and Moyes has conceded they have missed his presence despite the club continuing to improve in his absence to the extent that they are in the reckoning for European qualification. Everton are eighth going into the final stretch of Premier League games.
Grealish has continued to do his rehabilitation from the foot injury under the guidance of Everton’s medical staff, which is unusual as normally a player would return to his parent club. The arrangement reflects a shared desire to have him around for longer and that is something Everton are set to pursue, although there have been no talks between the clubs as yet.