Maresca Leaves Door Open for Grealish as Everton Pursue

Enzo Maresca has barely settled into the manager’s chair at Manchester City, but one of his first tasks already carries a £100m spotlight: deciding what happens next with Jack Grealish.

Everton want him back. City are not closing the door. And Grealish, still on the comeback trail from injury, sits right in the middle of a tug-of-war that could shape the next phase of his career.

Grealish in limbo – but back in sky blue

The 30-year-old is back at City’s training base, edging closer to full training after the stress fracture in his foot that wrecked the second half of his season. The injury came in January, in a 1-0 win at his former club Aston Villa, and ended a productive loan spell at Everton just as he was catching fire.

Before that setback, Grealish had started to look like a match-winner again. Two late, decisive goals. Six assists. Big moments, delivered under pressure, that helped push Everton through tight games. When the fracture hit, his season was over, but he stayed put at Finch Farm until his loan officially expired last month, a presence around the squad even when he couldn’t affect things on the pitch.

Now he’s back at the Etihad. New manager. Old relationship.

Maresca’s stance: coach first, decisions later

Maresca knows Grealish well from his time as Pep Guardiola’s assistant, and that familiarity shaped his first public verdict on the forward’s future.

“At the moment, he's here. He's a Man City player,” Maresca said at his first press conference as City manager. He stressed his philosophy: when he walks into a club, he considers every contracted player his responsibility to coach.

“Jack is here. I have a good relation with Jack since I left. Also, we keep in touch, and the reason why is because he has a big heart and he's a very good guy,” he added, before drawing a line under it with a simple, pointed coda: “And then we see what happens.”

No promises. No guarantees. But no rejection either.

For Grealish, that means a genuine chance to impress a manager who already knows his character and understands his game. For Everton, it means any move will have to wait.

Everton’s desire, City’s preference

Inside Goodison, the picture is clear. There is a strong desire at Everton to bring Grealish back after his impact last season, and there is a belief that the player would welcome a return. He found rhythm, responsibility and a crowd willing to ride the highs and lows with him.

But the first hurdle is not financial. It’s physical. Grealish has to prove his fitness before any serious negotiations can start.

Only then does the next complication arrive. City, it is understood, would rather sanction a permanent transfer than another loan. That stance instantly raises the stakes. A £100m signing leaving on a permanent deal is not a quiet piece of business, and it forces Everton to weigh ambition against budget, emotion against hard numbers.

For now, the situation is frozen. Grealish works his way back at City. Maresca watches, assesses, and keeps his options open. Everton wait, hopeful but not in control.

The question is simple and ruthless: when Grealish is finally fit, will Maresca see a key piece for his new City, or a saleable asset whose future lies back at Hill Dickinson Stadium?