Everton have been told they have to sign Jack Grealish again after the former loan star took part in an open training session at Manchester City’s Joie Stadium on Thursday.
Grealish impresses in open session
Grealish participated in a series of drills, alongside his City team-mates, including the likes of Erling Haaland, Nico O’Reilly and Jeremy Monga, as new boss Enzo Maresca put the squad through their paces in sweltering conditions. Afterwards, the winger chatted with fans and signed autographs.
The Brummie ace impressed during his time on Merseyside, receiving the first Premier League Player of the Month award of his career in the week of his 30th birthday after providing four assists in his first two starts and he then followed that up with Hill Dickinson Stadium’s first stoppage-time winner in the 2-1 comeback victory over Crystal Palace and Everton’s first Premier League success over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
Injury setback and desire to return
However, after helping the Blues to arguably their best result of the season, a 1-0 triumph on January 18 back at Aston Villa, who had won their previous 11 home games, it was revealed that Grealish had suffered a major injury setback and he has subsequently undergone surgery for a stress fracture in his left foot.
Despite this disappointment, video footage of him at the club’s end-of-season awards black-tie event showed him enjoying himself with friends while leading the singing of: “One more year, Jackie Grealish, playing football the Everton way.”
The ECHO understands that there is an appetite from Grealish and Everton alike for him to return to Hill Dickinson Stadium next season, but the deal has to be right for both parties.
Limpar: Grealish is essential
However, Anders Limpar, who was a boyhood Blue growing up in Sweden before being part of Everton’s 1995 FA Cup-winning side believes bringing Grealish back is essential business for David Moyes.
Speaking courtesy of SveaCasino, the 60-year-old told the ECHO: “Everton have to buy Jack Grealish, he is the missing piece of the puzzle.
“What else can you say? When he plays, Iliman Ndiaye plays better, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall plays better, and even Beto looks better.
“I hear the rumours that Jack is not coming back to Everton, that he’s going somewhere else or returning to Aston Villa, or even staying to play for Manchester City, and I think that would be a devastating blow to Everton if Jack doesn’t return.
“If Everton don’t sign Jack, and Ndiaye goes too, we’re going to be in the bottom half again, fighting not to fall into the relegation battle, because the club need a centre-forward too but they need the players to supply that centre-forward.
“David Moyes is too clever not to see it but it’s up to the club to solve the problem and sign Grealish otherwise we will have to find someone who can replace Grealish and that’s not easy at all.”
