Everton have kept the conversation alive with Jack Grealish after his rehabilitation spell at the club helped open the door to longer-term discussions. Manchester City have also floated a possible structure involving Iliman Ndiaye, but nothing has been agreed and the situation remains one to watch rather than a done deal.
- Grealish, still a Manchester City player, is reportedly in talks over a potential return to Everton.
- Manchester City have suggested a potential deal involving Iliman Ndiaye, though that arrangement remains under discussion rather than settled.
- Everton want to keep Ndiaye, while Sunderland do not appear to be part of the current Grealish talks. Ndiaye is also understood to have turned down two Saudi approaches in favour of staying in the Premier League.
Jack Grealish’s Current Everton Situation
Jack Grealish remains a Manchester City player, but Everton’s ongoing contact with him has given this story real shape. Angus Kinnear has made it clear that the club stayed in touch with Grealish, and that his rehabilitation period at Everton created a platform for a longer-term conversation.
Everton are talking, not announcing. There is no confirmed agreement, no completed return, and no formal outcome yet, even if the contact itself suggests the idea could move beyond a passing rumour.
Grealish’s recent City involvement explains why Everton would keep that door open. In the 2025 Premier League season, he made 20 appearances, 18 of them starts, and produced two goals with six assists across 1,627 minutes. Everton also saw a sharp drop in results after his injury ended his season, with the club’s win rate falling from 45% to 22% and their points average slipping from 1.6 per match to 1.0.
Iliman Ndiaye’s Possible Role in the Discussions
Iliman Ndiaye is the complicating factor rather than the headline act. Manchester City have reportedly suggested a potential deal involving the Everton forward, and the idea of Grealish being included as part of that structure has been discussed, but it is still only a possibility at this stage.
Everton’s stance is much clearer. Ndiaye is currently their player, and Kinnear has said the club want their best players to stay and help drive their ambitions. That matters because Ndiaye was not a fringe player last season; he started all 32 of his Premier League appearances in 2025, played 2,778 minutes, and returned six goals plus three assists.
City’s interest has also been linked with an £80 million valuation from Everton’s side, though that should be treated as market context rather than an agreed price or active bid. Sunderland, meanwhile, do not appear to be involved in the current Grealish discussion. Ndiaye is also understood to have rejected two Saudi approaches this summer as he looks keen to remain in the Premier League.
Everton’s Squad Plans and the Next Steps
Everton’s wider planning helps explain why an Ndiaye-linked structure would not be straightforward. Kinnear has already stressed that the club will not risk its financial position by spending wildly, which points to a more careful window even while bigger opportunities are explored.
Squad continuity is part of that picture too. Everton used only 22 players in the Premier League last season, the lowest total in the division, so losing an established starter like Ndiaye would create a sizeable gap unless the club were convinced the overall deal genuinely improved the squad.
If discussions keep moving, Everton could have to balance the appeal of bringing Grealish back against the bigger question of whether parting with one of their most important attackers makes sense for the longer term.
