Grealish back for Man City - but for how long?

Jack Grealish is back in the Manchester City fold – for now. The 30‑year‑old is entering the final year of a reported £300,000‑a‑week contract at Etihad Stadium and was omitted from Pep Guardiola’s last match in charge, after which he was permitted to join Everton on a season‑long loan. That spell on Merseyside was ended prematurely in January by an Achilles tendon injury, but Grealish has since returned to full fitness and has featured in several of City’s matches this season. He came on during the Community Shield decider against Arsenal and played the final eight minutes of City’s comeback victory over Bournemouth in Sunday’s Premier League opener. Seen on the bench against the Cherries, Grealish appeared in good spirits and later thanked City supporters on social media for a “nice welcome” on his return. Although Guardiola’s successor Enzo Maresca has given the winger a fresh lease of life, no assurances have been made that Grealish will remain a City player beyond the transfer deadline on Tuesday, 1 September. **Options open as Maresca waits to see what happens** Grealish was observed in training when City players reported for pre‑season in mid‑July. He had been expected to travel with the squad to the Far East but was withdrawn after suffering an injury setback. The former Aston Villa captain has viewed Guardiola’s departure as a new beginning and impressed in training to such an extent that he has earned a place back in the squad. With the transfer window entering its final week, club sources indicate that all options remain open for Grealish’s future – staying at the club, going out on loan again, or departing permanently. Maresca has not ruled out a move, saying after Sunday’s game: “He is present and it is my job to manage Jack and to try to get the best.” He added: “Then it is one more week to go and we will see what happens. Not only with Jack but also other players.” **Everton have remained in contact** During his loan at Everton, Grealish looked to be regaining his best form, contributing two goals and six assists in 20 appearances before his injury. His early‑season performances last year earned him the Premier League Player of the Month award for August and quickly made him a favourite with the Toffees’ fans. City sources say no concrete offers for Grealish have emerged this summer, with a return to Hill Dickinson Stadium viewed as the most viable alternative should he choose to leave. Everton have yet to make a formal approach, but Grealish remains of interest to the club. “He is simply a player we have remained in contact with,” Everton chief executive Angus Kinnear told BBC Radio Merseyside. He continued: “It was no secret he decided to have his injury rehabilitation done here for the remainder of last season – he didn’t have to do that as he could have gone back to Manchester City.” Kinnear added: “He is simply a player who has fallen in love with the lovely shade of blue, but yet he is still a City player and we have to respect that. What I do know is that the supporters and the squad embraced him and treated him as one of our own. That gave us a good basis to have a longer‑term conversation with him.” He concluded: “The most important thing is that he is back fit after he had a serious injury, so I was delighted to see him get some minutes in the Community Shield.”