Everton remain determined to explore a deal for Jack Grealish, despite a significant change in the transfer plans that had appeared likely to bring the Manchester City midfielder back to the club.
Sources indicate that Everton’s interest in the 30-year-old remains strong, even after the club made a breakthrough in negotiations to re-sign Richarlison. Grealish spent last season on loan at Everton and the club remain hopeful of finding a way to bring him back on a permanent basis.
The potential move for Grealish had initially been expected to form part of a wider set of discussions involving Everton and Manchester City. Manchester City had been pursuing Everton forward Iliman Ndiaye, while Tottenham were interested in Cody Gakpo.
Earlier last week, Ndiaye appeared to be moving towards Manchester City, with Gakpo expected to join Tottenham. Grealish was then viewed as a possible component of an agreement between Manchester City and Everton, creating the possibility of a deal involving several players.
Those plans changed when Manchester City stepped up their interest in Gakpo. The club have long admired the Dutch forward’s versatility, while the need for additional support for Erling Haaland was understood to have encouraged them to accelerate their pursuit.
As Manchester City’s focus shifted, Tottenham and Everton also held talks over a possible exchange involving Richarlison and Ndiaye. That discussion altered the structure of the deals that had previously seemed most likely to take place.
The developing negotiations have not, however, weakened Everton’s desire to sign Grealish. The Toffees continue to hope that an agreement can be reached to bring the England international back after what sources indicate was a successful loan spell at Goodison Park last season.
Grealish’s future has also been linked with Aston Villa and Sunderland during the past week. Despite interest from those clubs and the changing direction of the discussions involving Manchester City, Tottenham and Everton, the Merseyside club remain focused on the possibility of securing his return.
Everton’s breakthrough over Richarlison represents a separate development in their transfer plans, but it has not ended their pursuit of Grealish. The club’s interest in the Manchester City player has survived the revisions to the proposed deals involving Ndiaye and Gakpo, leaving open the prospect of Grealish playing for Everton again next season.
