Jack Grealish would prefer a return to Everton if he leaves Manchester City in the final days of the transfer window, according to sources who spoke to BBC Sport.
City are also interested in Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye, who has turned down several contract offers on Merseyside.
Grealish, 30, has come off the bench in City’s first two matches of the season, and new manager Enzo Maresca is open to letting him move before Tuesday’s deadline. Grealish spent last season at Everton, scoring twice and providing six assists in 20 games before a foot injury ended his campaign in January.
Everton chief executive Angus Kinnear recently told BBC Radio Merseyside the club has “remained in contact” with Grealish. Manager David Moyes added: “He was brilliant for us, he’s a great boy. But it’s wrong for me to talk about him if he’s at another club.”
Former club Aston Villa are also thought to be keen on re-signing their ex-captain, though City sources say there have been no concrete bids from any team so far this summer. Maresca said on Thursday: “Jack is here. Until the day he is, it’s my duty to help him give us his best. In the next four, five days, we’ll see what happens. I speak with Jack almost every day.”
City are monitoring Ndiaye as well. Saudi side Al-Hilal showed strong interest in the Senegal international earlier this summer, but the 26-year-old reportedly declined the move. Everton are under no pressure to sell, with Ndiaye under contract until 2029, and would likely seek a fee around £70m to consider a sale. “We’re certainly not in a hurry to sell our best players,” Moyes said. “As far as I know, we’ve got nothing to be concerned about; we’ve had no contact from any club.”
Newly promoted Coventry City are in talks to take City defender Stephen Mfuni on a season-long loan. The 18-year-old made his first-team debut in the FA Cup third round last season before making eight Championship appearances on loan at Watford.