---
title: "Everton talking points today: Grealish boost, Barry stance, & defining night for Pickford"
canonical: "https://readeverton.com/everton-talking-points-grealish-barry-pickford/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Gary Gowers"
section: "Everton News"
published: "2026-07-11T06:45:09Z"
modified: "2026-07-11T06:45:11Z"
---

# Everton talking points today: Grealish boost, Barry stance, & defining night for Pickford

**Ten stories published on Friday, from the academy to the World Cup quarter-final — here’s where everything stands.**

Friday began with our usual morning roundup — [Maeda’s market getting crowded](https://readeverton.com/2026/07/10/everton-talking-points-maeda-keita-spence-grealish/) as Fulham and Brentford joined the race, Villa moving on Mandela Keita, and a £25m number attached to Djed Spence. From there, the day only picked up pace.

### Grealish handed a fresh boost

The headline mover was Jack Grealish. A [Football Insider report](https://readeverton.com/2026/07/10/everton-jack-grealish-transfer-manchester-city-report/) claimed Manchester City remain willing to sell despite talks between the 30-year-old and new boss Enzo Maresca over his Etihad future. City’s stance hasn’t shifted, the report suggests, regardless of the managerial change — welcome news for Everton, whose interest dates back to Grealish’s loan spell last season.

### Barry’s stance made clear

Elsewhere in attacking areas, [Everton’s position on Thierno Barry was clarified](https://readeverton.com/2026/07/10/everton-thierno-barry-stance-rb-leipzig-interest/) amid continued RB Leipzig interest. The club see the German side’s approach as validation of their recruitment rather than a reason to cash in cheaply — though a big enough offer would still be considered.

Barry scored eight in 38 league appearances last season after his £27.6m move from Villarreal, a mixed return that keeps him a divisive figure among supporters.

### A reopened route to Sorloth

Friday also brought a twist up front, with [Alexander Sorloth’s stalled Juventus move](https://readeverton.com/2026/07/10/everton-alexander-sorloth-transfer-juventus-stalls/) reopening a door many had thought closed. Juventus and Atletico Madrid haven’t found agreement on a fee — and, tidily enough, Sorloth faces Pickford this weekend in Norway’s World Cup quarter-final against England, giving Everton a live audition against Premier League opposition.

### Coleman’s next chapter, and a look back at the last one

The Seamus Coleman story ran in two parts. First, news that [Sheffield United have made contact](https://readeverton.com/2026/07/10/seamus-coleman-sheffield-united-contact-everton/) over a possible move to Bramall Lane, with Chris Wilder said to be assessing options at right-back. Nothing is close, and Coleman himself hasn’t decided whether to keep playing.

That prompted a tribute piece looking back at [what 17 years at Everton actually gave the club](https://readeverton.com/2026/07/10/the-end-of-an-era-what-seamus-coleman-gave-everton/) — from a £60,000 arrival from Sligo Rovers through the horror leg break in 2017 to nine years of captaincy under five different managers. Worth a read if you missed it.

### Goalkeeping depth under consideration

Behind the scenes, Everton are said to be [weighing up a move for Sam Johnstone](https://readeverton.com/2026/07/10/everton-sam-johnstone-goalkeeper-travers-exit/), contingent on Mark Travers leaving Merseyside. Coventry and Wrexham have both been credited with interest in Travers. One to file away rather than get carried away with for now.

### Pre-season gets under way

On the training pitch, [the first group of players returned to Finch Farm](https://readeverton.com/2026/07/10/everton-players-return-finch-farm-pre-season-begins/) on Friday, with new arrivals Merlin Rohl and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall among those reporting alongside Tim Iroegbunam and James Tarkowski. Those with extended World Cup involvement will follow later in the summer.

### Academy strengthened again

Off the pitch, Everton are [expected to appoint Tom Curtis](https://readeverton.com/2026/07/10/everton-expected-appoint-tom-curtis-manchester-united/) from Manchester United’s academy setup, continuing the club’s quieter work on the football department as they build out the structure behind the first team.

### Pickford’s biggest test yet

And the day closed with the piece of the week — [Pickford’s World Cup could yet provide his defining chapter](https://readeverton.com/2026/07/10/pickford-and-englands-world-cup-journey-could-yet-provide-his-defining-chapter/). England face Norway and Erling Haaland tonight for a place in the semi-finals, with Pickford poised to become England’s most-capped World Cup goalkeeper. He was excellent against Mexico. He’ll need to be again.