Pep Guardiola has hinted at the possibility of Jack Grealish making a return to Manchester City.
The England star has significantly impacted Everton since joining the club on a season-long loan from Manchester City in August.
The 30-year-old midfielder had found himself lower on the depth chart at the Etihad Stadium.
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While Guardiola won’t need to strategize against Grealish when the clubs face off in the Premier League on Saturday—he is ineligible to play against his parent club—his impressive performance has not gone unnoticed.
Guardiola commented, “He has a contract for one more year with us. What matters is that he is back. He is a significant asset in Everton’s matches. After everything that has happened, perhaps Manchester City would want him back, but I can’t say for sure.”
“Many developments are on the horizon. We’ll see what unfolds. The key thing is that he is actively playing again and getting plenty of minutes. I’m genuinely pleased that he is back to giving his all.”
Another player Guardiola is relieved he doesn’t need to manage is Erling Haaland, who Guardiola believes is in the best form of his career.
The prolific forward has scored an impressive 21 goals in just 12 appearances for both City and Norway this season.
Among his remarkable achievements are a five-goal display against Moldova in September and a hat trick against Israel last weekend, putting Norway on the verge of World Cup qualification for the first time since 1998.
In nine matches for City, the only game he did not score in was the September loss to Tottenham.
His 12 goals this season have brought his total to 136 for the club since he joined from Borussia Dortmund in 2022.
Guardiola joked that if he were an opposing manager, he would need “four central defenders” to handle Haaland.
He added, “I had the pleasure of facing him when he was with Dortmund, and I hope I never have to face him again for the rest of my life. He’s a top-class player. In the world of football, there are only a handful of players who make a significant difference, and I believe he is one of them. We are fortunate to have him and look forward to having him for many years.”
When asked if he thinks this is Haaland’s best form, Guardiola responded, “I believe so. He feels great, and his performance levels, not solely in terms of goals, but across the board, are exceptional.”
Guardiola stated that he doesn’t feel the need to manage Haaland closely right now and would only intervene if he encounters a rough patch.
He explained, “What I’m saying is, [he’s] going to have ups and downs because it’s impossible to maintain this. However, I will be there to support him, as we always must do in tough moments. Right now, he doesn’t need any additional praise or special treatment.”