Harry Diamond 24/07/2026 15comments  |  Jump to last

(Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images)

Enzo Maresca has praised Jack Grealish but refused to give assurances over his future at Manchester City.

Grealish has returned to Manchester City for pre-season after spending the 2025-26 campaign on loan at Everton.

The 30-year-old made a positive impression with the Blues, scoring twice and providing six assists in 18 league starts, before a foot injury prematurely curtailed his campaign.

Everton continue to be linked with re-signing Grealish, but there has been no public progress on a new deal. The Toffees have also been credited with interest in City right-back Rico Lewis.

Maresca, who has replaced Pep Guardiola at Manchester City this summer, discussed Grealish's future at a press conference on Friday.

He said he retains a strong working relationship with the winger, dating back to his previous spell on City's coaching staff, but added that City 'will see what happens' regarding his future at the Etihad.

"Jack at the moment is here. He is a Man City player. I always said, in any club I join, the players that are in the club, it is my duty to coach them. Jack at the moment is here. 

"I have a good relationship with Jack. Since I left, we've been keeping in touch. The reason why is because he has a big heart and is a very good guy. We will see what happens."

Read more - Jack Grealish: Should there really be a debate?

 

Reader Comments (15)

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Gaute Lie
1 Posted 24/07/2026 at 17:36:10
He is a very good footballer, no doubt about that. Our team went into a decline when he got injured. His offensive play leads to chances, assists and some goals.

But he will soon be 31 years old, he is not scoring enough goals, he is very injury prone, he likes to party far too much, he does not contribute much defensive like... and his salary and overall cost is too much.

He is a luxury player who we cannot afford, regarding his age and injuries. We can get two, three players for the cost of him.

So, even though I like the guy, it's a No from me. Sorry about that, but that is how I see it.
Tom Bowers
2 Posted 24/07/2026 at 18:28:35
With one or two changes at Everton it's not likely Jack will return unless it is a freebie and a lot less wages. At 31 and with that injury he had, which took a long time to get over, it's hardly likely Everton will shell out too much to get him back.

I suppose it depends on how Moyes wants to set up the formation and if he is confident that what he has will fill the bill.

Fully fit, Jack is still a class act and holds the ball up well for others to take up position and it was a great shame he got injured which probably cost the team many points.
Oliver Molloy
3 Posted 24/07/2026 at 18:57:17
He will leave Man City...

But maybe not to us.
Jim Bennings
4 Posted 24/07/2026 at 19:38:00
If he leaves Man City, he's only joining us. I don't see him going anywhere else, even Villa.

If he comes back to Everton, he's the absolute main man, the poster boy, and I think Jack genuinely loves that role.

We missed him especially in that last 7 games of the season when our ball retention in attacking areas was abysmal and was paramount to us seeping so many goals and blowing so many leads.
Jeff Armstrong
5 Posted 24/07/2026 at 21:33:11
I think Grealish,as he gets older will rely too much on this checking back malarkey, trying to entice fouls, knocking it back to the fullback (as long as it’s not Myko who he obviously doesn’t rate) at best square passes to a midfielder, gone are the days when he could go past players inside or out, we saw more glimpses of what he has become last season, rather than what he once was.
I don’t think he’s worth the investment, he’s clearly on a downward projectory and we shouldn’t be paying for that.
Reluctantly, I’ll say let’s pass on Jack.
Derek Thomas
6 Posted 24/07/2026 at 23:07:34
Sorry but for all the reasons mentioned above it's a No from me as well... (like I actually have a say).

The worst kind of expensive short termism that I thought we'd seen the last of with the departure of Moshiri and Kenwright (deceased).

But as we've seen with Dibling, if somebody 'on't committeeee' gets a case of the hots for a player, it, sadly, might happen.
Kevin Molloy
7 Posted 24/07/2026 at 23:40:43
If we can get him on loan for a little cheaper than last season, I'd go for that.

I definitely would not buy him.
Mark Taylor
8 Posted 24/07/2026 at 00:15:24
Wages too high and harms the SCR. We can surely do better looking to the future. They can't all be as underwhelming as Dibling (and maybe even he comes good).

It is pretty clear to me that Man City want him gone... so expect some very positive PR on him.
Paul Kossoff
9 Posted 24/07/2026 at 00:34:03
Rico Lewis.

Pep said a lack of raw physicality required to patrol the flank up and down the touchline. Pep Guardiola views him naturally as an interior midfielder rather than a conventional fullback. Is he our right-back? Well... not for Man City he ain't!
Chris Davies
10 Posted 24/07/2026 at 00:37:44
He'll be an Everton player.

He bought a box for years. He stayed and trained with Everton for far longer than is normal after an injury (and contract).

This deal was done long ago. I'd be amazed if he's not wearing anything other than royal blue come deadline day.

If you care about finances, get into banking. Jack's better than McNeil. That'll do me.
Alan J Thompson
11 Posted 25/07/2026 at 05:02:49
Sounds more like Maresca trying to justify the transfer fee Man City are asking than confirming he'll be part of their squad.
Paul Hewitt
12 Posted 25/07/2026 at 07:11:52
I can see Jack Grealish going to Saudi, for mega money.
Paul Griffiths
13 Posted 25/07/2026 at 07:33:03
Good shout PH. He will not be with us, hopefully, thankfully.
Jeff Spiers
14 Posted 25/07/2026 at 09:54:04
Apparently Jack Grealish offered a lifeline from Man City.
Stu Darlington
15 Posted 25/07/2026 at 10:25:24
Even with his skills waning with age, he is a better footballer than anything we've got.

Like everything else in football it will come down to the money. Anything more than a token transfer fee and a large wage cut and it would be a No-No from me!

A shame, possibly... but it would show how determined the lad is to play for Everton. I suspect his wage demands may be too much for us, but we'll have to wait and see.

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