The BBC is reporting that Jack Grealish’s preference would be to return to Everton should he leave Manchester City in the remaining days of the transfer window.
Everton have invested a huge amount into his extended recovery since sustaining a stress fracture in January, and he remained in this environment right through much of the summer, before eventually returning to Manchester City after Pep Guardiola had finally left.
Grealish made a great start on loan at Everton last season, scoring twice and providing 6 assists in his early games for the club. But he became increasingly less effective as defenders seemed to know exactly what he would try to do as the game slowed to a crawl when he would get the ball wide left, and be double- or triple-teamed by stalwart defenders.
Everton had the chance to convert his loan deal into a permanent one for the cool sum of £50M that would have made him the most expensive incoming player in the club’s history. But that opportunity, and presumably the prospect of having to match his incredible £300k weekly wages, was ultimately declined by the club, and he returned to Manchester City in time for pre-season training under Enzo Maresca.
It’s unclear just how much Maresca values him as part of the City squad, as he said on Thursday: “Jack is here. Until the day he is, it my duty to try and help him to give us the best. In the next four, five days, we will see what happens. I speak with Jack almost every day.”
The 30-year-old winger has appeared as a substitute in City’s opening two games of the season, but it is believed that Maresca is open to letting the Englishman leave the club before Monday night’s transfer deadline.
Read more at BBC Sport: Grealish keen on Everton, Man City look at Ndiaye