Everton find themselves at a critical junction regarding Jack Grealish‘s future. This follows a season where he truly found his form again on Merseyside. According to journalist Pete O’Rourke on the Transfer Insider podcast, the Toffees lead the race to sign the Manchester City attacker. They stay ahead of the pack despite interest from several other Premier League teams.
Everton lead chase for resurgent Jack Grealish amid injury blow
Grealish famously got back into his groove at Everton, but a painful foot injury recently cut his loan spell short and ended his season early. O’Rourke suggests that while European clubs and local rivals are watching closely, the player wants to stay at Everton for good. He specifically enjoyed his time playing for the current coaching staff.
Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, he explained: “I’m sure there are other Premier League clubs who will be monitoring his situation at City as well.
“As I said, he’s got back to his best form during that loan spell at Everton as well, so there’ll be other clubs who will be keeping tabs on his long-term situation as well.
“Not just in the Premier League, but in Europe because he has impressed with Everton.
“I think you probably have to say that Everton are in pole position to sign Grealish if he does end up leaving Man City.
“The positive news for Everton here is that Grealish is very much open to a return to Everton.
“He’s really enjoyed his time at the club, which has obviously been cut short by this injury, which was a big blow to him and a big blow for Everton as well.
“He has performed well for Everton, six assists and two goals in 20 Premier League appearances, he’s really enjoying working under David Moyes.”
Tactical rebirth and the David Moyes effect
Jack Grealish became the main man for the Toffees during the 2025/26 season. He played with a sense of freedom that he lacked during his final years at the Etihad. Now 30 years old, the England star arrived at Everton needing to show he was still a top-tier player.
David Moyes deployed the playmaker mostly on the left wing but also gave him the freedom to move into the middle of the pitch. From there, Grealish could run the show and set the pace of the game. This setup paid off quickly, as he racked up six assists and two goals in just twenty Premier League games before his injury.
Moyes made Grealish his go-to guy for moving the ball forward. He trusted the winger to win fouls and pull defenders out of position. The player stepped up by carrying the ball more than anyone else in the squad, acting as the link between a steady midfield and the strikers.
While the injury is a big setback, Everton have a clear advantage because their star fits perfectly into this specific style of play. Other clubs like Tottenham or Newcastle United might pay more, but they cannot promise him the same starring role. Moyes has already built the team around him at Everton.
Everton look like the top choice to sign him because the player cares more about being a regular starter than a backup somewhere else. Manchester City seem happy to let him go, and the bond between Grealish and the Hill Dickinson Stadium’s fans acts as a major factor. Other teams cannot easily match that connection. If the Toffees negotiate the reported £50 million price tag down to a more affordable figure, they secure a proven leader. He has already shown he can be the creative spark the club need.
