Maresca Keeps Grealish Options Open as Everton Pursue

Enzo Maresca has only just sat down in the Manchester City hot seat, but one of his first tasks already carries a £100m question: what happens next with Jack Grealish?

The new City manager refused to close the door on Grealish staying at the Etihad, even as Everton push hard to bring him back to Hill Dickinson Stadium after last season’s loan spell.

“At the moment, he's here. He's a Man City player,” Maresca said at his first press conference, making it clear that, for now at least, Grealish is part of his plans.

The Italian stressed a simple principle: if a player belongs to the club, he will coach him.

Grealish’s time on Merseyside has clearly left a mark. The 30-year-old produced two late match-winning goals and six assists for Everton last season, injecting quality and personality into their attack before his campaign was abruptly cut short. A stress fracture in his foot, suffered in a 1-0 win at former club Aston Villa in January, ended his season and halted the momentum he had finally built.

Injured, but not absent. Grealish stayed at Everton’s Finch Farm training base for the remainder of his loan, recovering and integrating, even as he knew the clock was ticking on his temporary stay. That loan officially expired last month, sending him back to Manchester and into a period of uncertainty.

Now he is back at City, continuing his rehabilitation and edging closer to full training. The surroundings are familiar; the man in charge is too. Maresca worked as Pep Guardiola’s assistant before striking out on his own at Leicester City and Chelsea, and that previous connection with Grealish is something he openly acknowledges.

“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,” Maresca said.

Then came the line that will interest both clubs and player alike: “And then we see what happens.”

Everton, for their part, are not hiding their intentions. There is a strong desire at the club to bring Grealish back for the new season, and they believe the player is open to the idea of returning to a place where he was trusted and central. The bond formed during his loan — on the pitch and in the dressing room — has not been forgotten.

But there is a hard football reality to deal with first. Grealish must prove his fitness before any serious negotiations can take place. City, for their part, are understood to favour a permanent sale rather than another loan, a stance that would demand a significant financial commitment from Everton if they want to turn last year’s short-term fix into a long-term solution.

For now, Grealish sits in the middle of it all: recovering at City, admired at Everton, and watched closely by a new manager who knows his character and quality. Maresca’s message was calm but clear.

Jack Grealish is here. What happens next could define the next chapter of his career — and shape two clubs’ seasons in the process.