Godwin ObajeEverton Eye Grealish and Others as Club World Cup Omissions Spark Transfer Opportunity
The Club World Cup may still divide opinion as a footballing spectacle, but for Premier League clubs on the outside looking in, it offers a valuable indicator of who might be available in the transfer market. For Everton, watching the squads of Manchester City and Chelsea emerge this week has thrown up a series of intriguing possibilities – none more eye-catching than Jack Grealish.
The England international was the headline absentee from Pep Guardiola’s travelling party for the expanded tournament, which will be staged in the United States later this month. Having struggled with injuries and form since City’s historic treble-winning campaign, Grealish’s omission feels like more than just a temporary tactical decision – it looks increasingly like a curtain call at the Etihad.
Everton have been linked with a loan move for the 28-year-old in recent weeks. While any deal would be complex – not least because of Grealish’s £300,000-a-week wages – the situation may evolve as the summer window progresses. With City seemingly preparing to move on and Grealish’s Euro 2024 hopes having faded, the time may be ripe for a fresh start.
Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness added fuel to the fire recently, telling Football Insider:
“There is a possibility [of a deal]. He needs to get back to playing consistently, and that’s what Everton could offer. If the financial side can be worked out, there’s no doubt it would be a coup for them.”
For Grealish, who cost City £100m when he signed from Aston Villa in 2021, such a move would represent a dramatic reset. But at a club like Everton – where David Moyes is overseeing an ambitious rebuild ahead of the club’s first campaign at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium – regular football and renewed responsibility might be just what he needs.
Grealish Not Alone Among High-Profile Omissions
While the former Villa captain naturally dominates the headlines, he is far from the only senior name to be left out of City’s and Chelsea’s Club World Cup squads. Both clubs have used the tournament as a line in the sand, with several fringe players now likely to be offloaded in the coming weeks.
For Moyes and Everton’s revamped recruitment department, those squad announcements are a scouting gift. The omission lists represent a pool of players with Premier League experience and pedigree, many of whom could become viable targets either on loan or as permanent signings – particularly if they’re eager to relaunch their careers.
The Toffees are operating under financial constraints, but the club’s new stadium and Premier League status still carry weight. And with six first-team players – including Idrissa Gueye – already confirmed as leaving the club, Everton have both the space and the need to be active in the market.
The rebuild at Finch Farm is not about volume alone. Moyes has spoken openly about the need for leadership, top-flight experience, and character – elements that many of the Club World Cup absentees possess in abundance.
The Wage Hurdle and Strategic Flexibility
Naturally, any deal for Grealish would require significant compromise from City or the player himself. At present, his wages place him among the Premier League’s highest earners – well beyond Everton’s typical pay structure. A loan deal would likely necessitate either a wage share or a heavily incentivised package based on appearances and performances.
Still, Everton have shown a willingness to explore creative solutions in recent years. The arrival of Arnaut Danjuma on loan from Villarreal last summer – albeit one that ultimately failed to live up to expectations – demonstrated the club’s openness to taking calculated risks on out-of-favour talent.
Grealish, for all the debate around his consistency, remains a player of unique qualities. His ball-carrying ability, low centre of gravity, and creativity between the lines are rare – and precisely the kind of attributes that Everton have sorely lacked at times, particularly when playing against deep-lying defences.
If a short-term deal could be brokered that suits all parties, it’s not hard to see how the move might benefit everyone involved. Grealish would get regular football and a chance to prove his worth ahead of the 2026 World Cup cycle, while Everton would gain a player capable of transforming their attacking output overnight.
A Rebuild in Progress
Moyes has not hidden from the size of the task ahead. Taking over a side that narrowly escaped relegation and endured instability at all levels, the veteran coach knows that the squad needs surgery – not just cosmetic tweaks.
Speaking last month, Moyes acknowledged:
“There’s a big job to do. We need to build a team that can compete – not just survive. The players here are giving everything, but we need more quality, more experience, and more options in every area.”
Already this summer, Everton have been linked with several targets across midfield and attack. A move for Jack Harrison remains under consideration after his loan from Leeds, while reinforcements in central midfield are being sought following the departures of Gueye and André Gomes.
The Club World Cup absentees add another dimension to the search. Alongside Grealish, City left behind players like Kalvin Phillips – another England international who may be looking for a new start – while Chelsea’s omissions could include the likes of Trevoh Chalobah and Malang Sarr, both defenders with Premier League credentials.
Grealish Deal Would Signal Ambition
Were Everton to pull off a move for Grealish, it would send a strong message about the club’s direction. After seasons of drift and uncertainty, it would mark the kind of high-impact, high-profile signing that could lift the mood and offer tangible hope of progress.
It would also be a signal to supporters that the new hierarchy – both in terms of Moyes and the recruitment team – are prepared to back their words with bold action. For a club moving into a new home and desperate to reconnect with its fanbase, such moments matter.
Of course, plenty of hurdles remain. Other clubs may yet enter the fray, and City will have their own valuation and timing considerations. But the stars may be aligning for a deal that once seemed implausible.
Grealish may never have truly felt at home in Manchester, but a move to Merseyside could offer a chance to rediscover the rhythm and confidence that once made him one of English football’s most compelling talents. If Everton can make it work, it may yet be one of the stories of the summer.
Godwin Obaje
