Grealish back for Man City - but for how long?

By

Manchester City reporter

Jack Grealish is back in the fold at Manchester City... for now.

The 30-year-old is into the final year of his reported £300,000-a-week contract at Etihad Stadium and was discarded by Pep Guardiola in the Spaniard's final season in charge, being allowed to join Everton on a season-long loan deal.

That spell on Merseyside was cut short in January by an Achilles tendon injury, but the Englishman has returned to full fitness and featured in both of City's games so far this season.

Grealish came on during the Community Shield defeat by Arsenal and played the final eight minutes of City's late comeback win over Bournemouth in Sunday's Premier League opener.

The winger appeared to be in good spirits while sitting on the bench against the Cherries and thanked City fans on social media afterwards for a "nice welcome" on his home return.

Though he has been handed a new lease of life under Guardiola's successor Enzo Maresca, no guarantees are being offered that Grealish will remain a City player come transfer deadline day on Tuesday, 1 September.

Grealish was spotted in training when the City players reported for pre-season in mid-July. He was supposed to join his team-mates on the tour of the Far East but was ruled out after suffering an injury setback.

The former Aston Villa skipper has seen Guardiola's departure as a fresh start and impressed in training to such an extent he has earned a place back in the squad.

Heading into the final week of the transfer window, clubs sources have left all options open for Grealish's future - staying at the club, going out on loan again or leaving permanently.

Maresca has not ruled out a move either, saying after Sunday's game: "He is here and it is my duty to coach Jack and to try to get the best.

"Then it is one more week to go and we will see what happens. Not only with Jack but also other players."

Grealish looked to be getting back to his best during his loan at Everton, contributing two goals and six assists in 20 appearances before his injury.

Such was his form at the beginning of last season, he claimed the Premier League's Player of the Month award for August and quickly became a fans' favourite.

City sources say there have been no concrete offers for Grealish so far this summer, with a return to Hill Dickinson Stadium looking the most viable option, should he move away.

Everton are yet to make an approach and try to agree a deal, but he remains of interest to the Toffees.

"He is a player we have remained in contact with," Everton chief executive Angus Kinnear told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"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.

"He is a player who has fallen in love with the right shade of blue, but ultimately he is a City player and we have to respect that. What I do know is that the supporters and the team embraced him and treated him as one of our own. That gave us a good platform to have a longer term conversation with him.

"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."