In what would be one of the most surprising moves of the summer transfer window, Everton have reportedly opened talks with Manchester City over a potential season-long loan deal for England international superstar, Jack Grealish.
According to a report from The Athletic, Everton’s approach is for a straight loan deal for the 29-year-old, with no discussions currently taking place regarding an option to make the move permanent at the end of the season.
The Toffees are understood to be willing to cover a significant portion of Grealish’s high salary to make the deal viable. However, the negotiations are said to be in their very early stages and are described as a “complicated deal” which is “not guaranteed to materialise.”
While a loan move for a player of Grealish’s stature away from the Premier League champions seems unlikely on the surface, increasing competition for places at the Etihad could see him seek more regular starts elsewhere, potentially making City open to the idea.
For Everton, this is a hugely ambitious move. After a difficult pre-season, manager David Moyes is desperate for quality reinforcements, and a marquee signing like Grealish would completely transform their attacking options and provide a massive morale boost to the club.
Everton are not alone in their interest. It is reported that “more clubs are keen” on the winger’s situation and have also made contact to be kept informed, which could complicate the Merseyside club’s pursuit.
Although the deal is far from certain, the fact that discussions are officially happening is a significant development. The coming days will reveal if Everton can pull off this audacious loan move and bring one of the Premier League’s biggest names to Goodison Park.