'It isn't going to happen' - Everton expert drops verdict on Jack Grealish deal after price twist

Jack Grealish will likely opt to play regularly rather than see out the remainder of his Manchester City contract on the bench.

That is the opinion of former senior Aston Villa and Everton scout, Bryan King, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.

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The 30-year-old hopes to return to Everton this summer after spending last season on loan at Hill Dickinson Stadium, but progress is yet to be made on a potential deal.

Grealish's wages and the potential fee Man City are looking for are thought to be a stumbling block, with the Toffees hoping that the asking price drops before the window closes.

The winger was a breath of fresh air on Merseyside last season, assisting four Premier League goals in just his first three games and enjoying a superb six months before his season-ending injury.

Everton may well face competition for Grealish in the latter stages of the window, but are expected to have his preference.

'Jack Grealish will want to play'

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It is a widely shared opinion that Grealish may well have gone on to far better things had he not made the £100million move to Man City in 2021.

The winger was coming off the back of a season that had seen him score seven goals and provide 10 assists in 27 games across all competitions for Villa when he made the move, and he would scarcely reach those heights again.

Pep Guardiola's football saw Grealish reduced to a cog in a system, and erased the dynamism and maverick quality that made him so exciting.

The 30-year-old seemed to get that back at Everton, and will be keen to rediscover that form.

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"He moved to Everton and then the talk was at £50m or £60m. wasn't it? That isn't going to happen. If they'd paid £50m, I don't think they could meet his wages," King told Football Insider.

"But I think if they could pay £15m to £20m, I think things could be sorted out. But again, they're not going to take him on loan. He's only got a year left. If he goes there on loan and sees the year out, then he can leave for nothing.

"So you've got that cleft stick situation now where Manchester City are going to cut their losses, or is he going to hang on? He's got a year left on his contract.

"He could stay there, he ain't going to play any football, but he could stay there and still get his money. I think Jack would want to play football, personally."

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Sources: Jack Grealish 'favourites' named as Everton and Aston Villa plot swoops Grealish's prior comments are telling

Grealish's first months at Everton spurred on such a reaction from not only fans of the Toffees, but the wider footballing community because it had been such a long time since he had looked to be happy with his football.

"For me, I wanted to come here, and the main thing was to enjoy football, you know, enjoying playing every day," he said in August after joining.

"And I think maybe at times in the last couple of years, I've fallen out of love – not fallen out of love, but just didn't enjoy football as much as I should. My family said to me at times when I was at home and stuff. That's down to no one else; it's down to myself.

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"But yeah, I absolutely love football, and I want to have that feeling again, when you wake up on a match day and you just can't wait to get out there. That's how I felt today and hopefully my performance showed that."

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