Jack Grealish got off to an excellent start to his time on Merseyside with Everton, earning his first-ever Premier League Player of the Month in August as he helped the Blues get off and running this season.
After that scorching beginning, he cooled off a bit, but he was still an instrumental part of the Toffees' season, scoring his first goal for Everton in a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace, and also scoring the winner in the reverse fixture away to Bournemouth.
But Grealish's injury, a stress fracture in his foot, and subsequent surgery have ended his season for Everton, and he'll look to recover for the summer preparation into next year.
The real question is where the England international will play in the 2026/27 campaign. His loan to Everton ends in June, and although there is an option to buy, the reported number of £50 million is much higher than the Toffees brass will pay for a player who'll turn 31 a few weeks into the season.
Mark Douglas of iPaper indicates that Everton would be more comfortable at a number nearer to
£20-25 million, but even that seems steep considering they paid roughly £24 million for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall last summer, a player who is almost exactly three years younger than Grealish.
The most obvious answer is that Grealish can return on another loan. Manchester City have clearly moved on from the player, and with his contract due to end in June of 2027, they'll want to recoup anything they can for him.
A transfer fee could be in the offing from somewhere else, but Grealish seems happy on Merseyside and may want to stay if given the choice. In that case, another loan on a similar number to this year's deal, maybe even lower due to his injury and being another year older, makes sense for all parties.
It doesn't allow Grealish the option for a long term deal, although there could be discussions about his future if Everton are interested in going that direction while he's in the building.
Paying a transfer fee for a player his age doesn't make a lot of sense for Everton, especially if Tyrique George proves to be a player they can count on and opt to keep in the fold as well.
But if Everton somehow achieve a European place, another loan to for Jack Grealish would be the best way to keep him at the club without immediately impacting the long term future.