Aston Villa can only sign Jack Grealish permanently as door opens to 'free transfer' - Stefan Borson

Premier League rules won't allow for Aston Villa to sign Jack Grealish on loan from Manchester City for the 2026-27 campaign.

That is according to former Manchester City financial adviser Stefan Borson, who exclusively told Football Insider that reports surrounding the winger's future are not all accurate.

Everton and Sunderland are both linked with a move for the 30-year-old, while an emotional return to Villa Park has also been mentioned.

Football Insider understands that the Citizens are open to accepting offers for the player, even if he has returned to fold under Enzo Maresca this term.

Before sustaining his injury at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, Grealish appeared to have returned to his very best, and interested clubs will be hoping for the same again.

However, with Unai Emery already signing Alejandro Garnacho and Aaron Wan-Bissaka on loan for the season, only a perment deal can be struck by the Villans.

Man City would be 'unhappy' with subsidised loan deal

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Borson has suggested that Man City could essentially let Grealish join his boyhood club on a free transfer.

"The interesting thing on Villa is that they've got two loans, two domestic loans, so they could not loan Grealish," he said.

"So they would have to buy him. It doesn't really make that much difference in reality because City would effectively give him a free transfer.

"As long as Grealish would agree to it, that is. Practically, that makes things slightly different from how it's been reported.

"Everton are obviously keen, but they clearly want to pay as little as possible and want City to subsidise it as much as possible.

"Man City not really happy with doing that. I think City would give him a free transfer if it costs them nothing."

Why Man City don't want Jack Grealish to leave on loan

The situation has become very complicated, and while keeping Grealish this season would not be the end of the world, it doesn't work for all parties.

"City have got him still in the books, probably, as I say, at £15m to £20m, just in terms of the amortisation costs that's left," Borson explained.

"They'll have to look at everything, including loans, and a loan really is not a loan in the conventional sense, because it's the last year of his contract.

"So really what it is, is a discounted deal that sees him out to the end of the contract, which effectively means City is subsidizing the final year of his contract."

Getting him off the books would suit the Citizens the best, but finding him a new club before the window shuts is a rather difficult task.