Manchester City winger Jack Grealish has been left out of the squad for their 11-day tour of the Far East, potentially paving the way for a return to Everton. The 30-year-old spent last season on loan at Goodison Park.
Grealish omitted from City tour
City face Internazionale in Hong Kong on Saturday, followed by matches in Seoul against K-League All-Stars and Atletico Madrid. BBC Sport reported that Grealish missed a seat on the plane to China despite returning to pre-season training last week.
New City manager Enzo Maresca, who replaced Pep Guardiola, said: “At the moment, he is here. He is a Manchester City player. 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. Jack is here. I have a good relationship with Jack since I left. Also, we keep in touch, and the reason why is because he has a big heart and he is a very good guy. So, this is the reason why and then we see what happens.”
Previous omission and Everton impact
This situation mirrors last summer when Grealish was omitted from City's squads for the FIFA Club World Cup in the USA, despite being a key figure in their treble-winning side. He joined City from Aston Villa for £100 million in 2021.
During his Everton loan, Grealish won his first Premier League Player of the Month award after providing four assists in his first two starts. He also scored a stoppage-time winner against Crystal Palace and secured Everton's first Premier League win at Bournemouth. However, after a 1-0 win at Aston Villa in January, he suffered a stress fracture in his left foot and underwent surgery.
Both parties keen but deal must suit
Video from Everton's end-of-season awards showed Grealish leading chants of “One more year, Jackie Grealish, playing football the Everton way.” The ECHO understands that both Grealish and Everton are open to a return, but the deal must be right for both parties. City reportedly wanted £50 million last summer, but Everton will not break their transfer record for a 31-year-old coming off a serious injury. A deal may wait until later in the transfer window.
