Incoming Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca is planning to hold talks with Jack Grealish regarding his future at the Etihad Stadium, according to reports. Maresca is widely expected to replace Pep Guardiola following the conclusion of Guardiola’s decade-long tenure with the club.
The planned discussions signal a potential lifeline for Grealish, who spent the latter part of last season on loan at Everton. His time at Goodison Park was unfortunately cut short by injury, preventing a full assessment of his form. Guardiola had previously appeared to deem Grealish surplus to requirements, limiting his playing time before the loan move.
However, The Mirror reports that Maresca believes Grealish can still contribute to the City squad and wants to assess his suitability within the team’s future plans. This represents a shift in perspective from the previous management, offering the playmaker an opportunity to revive his career with the Premier League champions.
Everton had reportedly been confident of securing Grealish’s return to the club following the end of his loan spell, with plans for a meeting already scheduled to discuss a potential permanent transfer. That confidence is now likely to diminish given Maresca’s intention to speak with the player. Grealish joined Manchester City from Aston Villa in 2021 for a then-club record fee of £100 million, but has struggled to consistently establish himself as a key player.
Maresca’s appointment is expected to be formally announced shortly, with City also reportedly set to compensate Chelsea for his move, as he departed his role as their manager to take the position. The talks with Grealish will be among Maresca’s first acts as he begins to shape the squad for the upcoming season, potentially signalling a change in tactical approach or personnel priorities.
