Man City transfer news: Jack Grealish loan talks 'intensify' following Tottenham enquiry

Manchester City winger Jack Grealish is reportedly 'advancing' in talks to sign for Everton and has 'opened doors' to a move to Merseyside.

The former Aston Villa captain is surplus to requirements at the Etihad Stadium under Pep Guardiola, who will not stand in his way of a temporary or permanent exit in the summer transfer window.

Sports Mole understands that Tottenham Hotspur submitted an enquiry for Grealish soon after James Maddison suffered his ACL injury - which could rule him out for the entire season - in South Korea.

However, Everton have also emerged as genuine contenders to sign the £100m man, and the Toffees appear to be at the head of the queue over Tottenham, having accelerated their interest in recent hours.

According to The Times, David Moyes's side have now 'ramped up' their efforts to sign Grealish for the 2025-26 season and have held 'further talks' over a loan deal.

Grealish 'opens doors' to Everton as contact 'intensifies'

The contact between Man City and Everton has apparently 'intensified' in recent hours, and Fabrizio Romano adds that Grealish has 'opened doors' to signing for the Toffees this month.

The England international has apparently emerged as a priority target for Moyes's side, who are willing to take a punt on him after his four troubled years in a sky blue shirt.

Grealish became the most expensive British player of all time when he signed for Man City for £100m in 2021, since when the 29-year-old has become a three-time Premier League winner, Champions League winner and Club World Cup champion.

However, the winger has only scored 17 times in 157 appearances for the Sky Blues - as well as providing 23 assists - and he only started seven Premier League games in the 2024-25 campaign.

What Grealish alternatives can Tottenham target in transfer window?

As well as Maddison's long-term ACL injury, Spurs should be without Dejan Kulusevski for another few weeks due to his own knee issue, while Alfie Devine has been loaned to Preston North End.

The Lilywhites are therefore without a single genuine option in the number 10 position, which either Lucas Bergvall or Mohammed Kudus could be shoe-horned into for the UEFA Super Cup with Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.

Spurs are said to have failed with a £34.5m offer for Como's Nico Paz, and it remains to be seen if they will submit a revised offer for the former Real Madrid man, whom Los Blancos can buy back for a cheap fee thanks to a clause in his contract.

Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze, Brighton & Hove Albion's Facundo Buonanotte and Leicester City's Bilal El Khannouss are also viable options, and Arsenal's move for the former appears to have stalled in the past couple of weeks.