'Big sticking point' - Everton's Jack Grealish deal hits stumbling block
Everton are facing a major stumbling block in their pursuit of Man City outcast Jack Grealish.
The 29-year-old is expected to depart the Etihad this summer after four up-and-down seasons in Manchester.
But since then, the former Aston Villa man's career at City has been on a gradual decline, and he was left out of Pep Guardiola's squad for the Club World Cup this summer.
Grealish has been linked with a move to Tottenham and a potential return to Villa Park, but Everton have been the first side to make a formal approach for the winger [The Athletic].
Jack Grealish's wages 'big sticking point' for Everton
This article contains exclusive comment from Dan Plumley, a football finance expert and senior lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University.
But whilst Grealish would represent a significant upgrade from Jesper Lindstrom, who was Everton's left-winger for much of last season, signing the winger will not be easy, even without a transfer fee to contend with.
He said: "Everything that you would look at there sensibly suggests that they would want the City to cover a proportion of that.
"If you're going to do a loan deal for him, I think wages will be a big sticking point.
"Given everything we've seen from this group so far, and the backstory with Everton, I'd find it highly unlikely that they would want to cover all of his wages.
"They might be able to afford it, but it might be an overstretch. The likelihood is, if that deal is going to be done, that you would be asking City to come to some sort of agreement and put some sort of package together where it's a little bit of both [teams] covering the wages.
"We just haven't seen that from this group [overspending]. It's not how they have gone in and operated, and it's not where that club is at.
"If that deal is to be done, they would likely be asking City to cover some of that cost."
Everton eye deal for Tyler Dibling
Whilst Grealish's arrival would solve the Toffees' issues on the left, there is still a need for a new right-winger after Jack Harrison's loan finished.
Everton have made several bids for Tyler Dibling, but Southampton are holding out for a package worth £50m [The Athletic].
The young winger impressed in a dismal Saints side last season, scoring four and assisting two.
But much like Grealish, Everton will face a battle to sign Dibling, with Aston Villa one of several clubs interested in the 19-year-old.