Links to Everton and Manchester City winger Jack Grealish have not quieted as the transfer windows continue, as the well-respected (and connected) Bobble has gotten involved in the rumors.
Much of the hold up seems to be coming from City's side, as they cannot decide what they want to do with Grealish and what sort of terms they'd accept once a choice is made. Everton, for its part, prefers a "premium" loan, whatever that entails, and will likely want the Sky Blues to foot some of the England internationals' massive wages.
West Ham, Everton's opponent on Wednesday evening in Chicago, and Napoli are also thought to be involved in the race, so some it may come down to the preference of the player. The price tag involved in bringing him over will factor in as well, not to mention City's ideas about how to move him.
There are, of course, questions about Grealish's fit at Everton. He does have some history as an attacking midfielder, a position that only Charly Alcaraz seems fit to fill at this moment for the Toffees.
And while he has shown some versatility to play all along the front line, he has primarily been a left winger going back to his last season at Aston Villa and since joining Manchester City in 2021. If that's the case, Everton already have a glut of players who are stronger on the left, notably Iliman Ndiaye and Dwight McNeil, which would make Grealish yet another option there.
Maybe he becomes the starter behind the striker, and David Moyes opts to push Alcaraz out right, something he's done off and on during his career, or maybe Ndiaye, who plays there for Senegal, would be an option.
But at that point, are you pushing other, talented players out of position for Grealish, who, while still a talent in his own right, is older (he'll turn 30 on September 10) and has not played more than 2100 Premier League minutes since leaving Villa.
Some of that last part can come down to the move from Villa, where he was the undoubted star, to City, where he was a small fish in a big pond, but injuries have played a part, as well as Grealish not taking advantage of his opportunties when they did come.
Back in late May, when these rumors first began, I argued that Everton should pursue the move as long as the financials worked out. I think there's some truth to this, but there would need to be a plan for Grealish's role. Otherwise, things may start to feel a lot like the 2017 summer transfer window.
Given Everton's current state, that cannot be repeated.