View: Everton left with clear choice over Grealish transfer as decision time approaches

The headlines were as unsavoury as they were predictable.

By now, the photos of Jack Grealish seemingly asleep while at a rooftop bar in Manchester have done the rounds countless times on social media. For those not familiar, they show him slumped in his chair in front of a table teeming with empty bottles.

This was Britain’s first £100million footballer splashed all over the back – and front – pages for all the wrong reasons. “Booze party over recovery,” announced the Times of India. But this was only a small part of the public backlash that Everton must navigate.

Those at Hill Dickinson Stadium still speak very highly of him. David Moyes was instantly won over, having pushed for his signing last summer, while CEO Angus Kinnear missed his son’s bedtime one late evening after putting the finishing touches to the ace’s contract.

With Manchester City in town on Monday night, talks over Grealish’s future could potentially take place. The images of the player with his friends are unlikely to change Everton’s stance, but they have raised awkward questions over his mentality and maturity.

Should Everton still sign Jack Grealish?

All that is clear currently is that any deal for Grealish would be a gamble, and very likely an expensive one at that. With his lofty reputation comes a hefty price tag and doubts over his ability to dominate opponents in the Premier League over the course of a long season.

It should be stressed at this point that the 30-year-old did not breach the club’s disciplinary rules during his bar outing, which happened to come during Everton’s defeat by West Ham.

He had already completed his recovery work for his foot break for the week and was therefore free to spend time however he wished. That he was then snapped after dozing off in his chair reflected poorly on him, but also on the questionable company with him that day.

Rightly or wrongly, Simon Jordan used the pictures as a stick to beat Grealish with.

“There is a reason why Jack Grealish is no longer considered to be an elite footballer worthy of being at Man City and is on loan to Everton,” said Jordan on talkSPORT.

“It must ultimately be because he hasn’t performed at a certain level, and some of that may well be because he doesn’t perhaps conduct himself in the way that an elite footballer should do.

“If I’m the owner of a football club, and a player’s unfit, he is out of sight, out of mind to some extent. If I see those pictures, it reminds me that I’m paying him £200,000 a week for him to get fit.”

This brutal assessment, though, was divorced from reality. There are no rumbles of discontent around Grealish’s recent behaviour among Hill Dickinson figures.

Indeed, he remains extremely well-liked. His reputation for being an affable young man is well established, even if he does occasionally land himself in hot water. Crucially, up until his campaign-ending injury in January, Grealish had also impressed on the pitch.

He began the season with an immediate reminder of his quality, scoring twice and registering six assists in 22 matches. While he wasn’t always spotless, having been sent off for two silly bookings against Wolves in January, Grealish easily justified Moyes’ punt.

Whether he will do so again is an entirely different question.

Everton ‘confident’ over Grealish deal

According to The i Paper, sources at the club are now increasingly confident that a deal can be reached with City to extend Grealish’s spell on Merseyside. Everton would prefer to strike another loan, and believe that the ace’s desire to stay put could play in their favour.

That will remain the situation until the end of the campaign, when negotiations will officially begin. Moyes would unsurprisingly like to keep Grealish, but he will be aware that would only be possible if City are open to compromising. His £50m purchase option is a non-starter.

Everton hold most of the cards, aware that Pep Guardiola was determined to ship Grealish out after effectively giving up on his club’s most expensive signing in the business end of last season. Moyes, on the other hand, has had nothing but praise for him.

“I only think of Jack as being positive,” said the Scot shortly after the controversial images of Grealish became public. “He’s done great for us.

“He was brilliant for, I don’t know, 20 games, however many games it was. When I’m looking back at the start of the season and how controlled the team were and how well we played, he was really good for us, so I think of Jack positively.

“He has had a bit of time off because he is healing from his foot.”

In Moyes’ eyes, and indeed the eyes of countless others, Grealish remains a role model. It is just a crying shame that the spotlight is once again fixed on him for all the wrong reasons. Everton won’t admit it, but this will surely factor into their thinking ahead of the summer.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.

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