Moyes Evaluates Grealish and George Futures as Everton Plans

David Moyes is in no rush to decide the futures of Jack Grealish and Tyrique George – and he’s making sure everyone knows it.

Everton head into the summer with two intriguing loan dilemmas and a manager determined not to be bounced into an early call. Grealish, borrowed from Manchester City, lit up Goodison Park before a serious foot injury cut short his season. George, drafted in from Chelsea in January, has been more of a project than a headline act.

For now, both are heading back to their parent clubs. What happens after that is where it gets interesting.

Grealish’s audition cut short

Grealish arrived last summer with a point to prove. At 30, no longer the golden boy of the Etihad, he needed minutes, responsibility, and a stage that would love him back. Goodison obliged.

In 18 Premier League starts, he produced two goals and six assists. The numbers don’t scream superstardom, but the influence did: he knitted moves together, drew fouls, dragged Everton up the pitch. Then came the break – literally.

A serious foot injury ended his campaign just as he looked settled. The damage required surgery and a pin. Ordinarily, a loanee in that situation would be packed off back to his parent club for rehab. Moyes chose a different route.

“We've looked after Jack since his injury,” he explained, outlining how Everton kept him in-house rather than sending him back to City. The surgeon, he said, is “speaking very well” about the progress and believes the foot is “healing greatly”.

The decision to care for Grealish on Merseyside says plenty. There is trust, there is investment, there is a bond. It still doesn’t mean a permanent deal is guaranteed.

City, now heading into a new era after confirming Pep Guardiola’s departure, hold the cards contractually. Grealish is tied to the Etihad until 2027 and will return to a club under fresh management, a scenario that could either reopen his City career or price Everton out of the equation.

Moyes’s stance reflects that uncertainty. “We like Tyrique, obviously we like Jack a lot – but we've not got an answer yet,” he said. Admiration is clear. Commitment is not.

George impresses in the shadows

If Grealish has been the headline, George has been the footnote – but an intriguing one.

The 20-year-old arrived from Chelsea in January with the usual tags: highly rated, big potential, raw. Opportunities, though, have been scarce. Just one Premier League start. Only 182 league minutes.

That kind of sample size rarely defines a career, and Moyes is not about to judge him on a handful of cameos. What the Everton manager has seen up close, he clearly likes.

“We've enjoyed having Tyrique here – he's been an excellent boy and his work-rate and everything has been excellent, so we're happy with him,” Moyes said. The emphasis wasn’t on flair or end product. It was on attitude, application, character – the traits managers lean on when deciding whether to invest in youth.

George’s situation also feels different to Grealish’s. He is younger, cheaper, and less encumbered by expectation. For a club that has to be smart in the market, he looks the kind of calculated gamble that can pay off handsomely.

Yet again, Moyes is refusing to be rushed. “As the summer goes on, we'll decide what path we're going to take on both of them,” he said. The message is consistent: Everton will move on their terms.

Mykolenko deal edges closer

While the futures of Grealish and George hang in the balance, one situation is close to being wrapped up.

Moyes confirmed that Everton are “very close” to agreeing a new deal for Vitalii Mykolenko, a player who has grown into a dependable presence on the left side of defence. Locking him down feels like the kind of sensible, stabilising move that has often eluded the club in recent years.

Keep Mykolenko. Decide on Grealish. Weigh up George. It is a summer of choices at Goodison, some emotional, some financial, all significant.

For now, Moyes is happy to let the clock tick. Grealish continues his rehab under Everton’s care, with a new City manager waiting in the background. George keeps his head down, hoping that work-rate and patience will turn a short loan into a long-term home.

At some point, Everton will have to choose: stick with what they’ve started, or let both loans become nothing more than brief, intriguing chapters in a much bigger rebuild.