Everton are only willing to pay between £5m and £10m to sign Jack Grealish on a permanent deal this summer, according to Football Insider.
The figure is understood to reflect David Moyes’ preference for spending on proven quality without going close to the £50m option-to-buy price set by Man City in Grealish’s loan agreement last season.
The reported ceiling marks a drop from earlier suggestions the two clubs might settle in the £15m-£20m region, figures that had circulated as recently as last week.
Everton remain keen on bringing the 30-year-old back to Merseyside after a loan spell that yielded eight goal involvements in 20 Premier League appearances before a stress fracture ended his season in January.
Grealish has continued his rehabilitation at Finch Farm this summer despite his loan having technically expired, and has been reported as willing to take a significant pay cut on his City wages to push through a permanent switch.
City, working under new manager Enzo Maresca, are said to remain open to selling, with the winger regarded as surplus to the club’s rebuilding plans.
Everton have made no secret of their financial constraints this summer. Moyes said last month that finances would “play a big part” in the club’s business, while stressing that Jack Grealish remains “incredibly well liked inside and outside the building.”
Talks between the two clubs are expected to continue through the rest of the window, with the gap between Everton’s valuation and City’s original £50m figure still the central obstacle to a deal being finalised.
