(Credit: Hasan Karin, Breaking Media/Imago)

Jack Heath

Tue 12 August 2025 11:10, UK

Jack Grealish can dazzle under David Moyes at Everton after finalising a season-long loan as the history books show we have seen it before.

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After many back-and-fourths, the England international has finally landed an agreement to work under the Scotsman next season.

Despite Grealish’s massive wages, the Toffees deemed it a price worth paying to bring in the experienced attacker, especially after failing with numerous bids for Southampton’s Tyler Dibling led to Everton losing interest in the right-winger.

The blue half of Merseyside were struggling in attack but the deal for the former Aston Villa starboy and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Chelsea has seemingly revitalised their attack.



The former Leicester man is set to join Grealish as a new face in the Blues’ attack (Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media)

Some pundits have doubted whether the move will pay off for either party, but a glance back a few years back sees striking comparisons between the 29-year-old’s situation with that of another outcast of Manchester.

To truly understand how beneficial this move is by uniting both Moyes and Grealish, we must look back to the 2020-21 season at a similar set of circumstances.

Indeed, it was the bizarre Covid-19 campaign, where matches were played in empty stadiums and players dropped out last minute after testing positive.

“J Lingz” rediscovered his scintillating golden touch for half a season in east London (Credit: Getty Images)

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The Scotsman was managing at West Ham who were in need of reinforcements in the January transfer window.

Struggling for options amid the pandemic, the Irons turned to a down-trodden and unwanted Man United former star: Jesse Lingard.

The now-32-year-old arrived at the time with a fresh sense of hope after fighting to get back into the Red Devils starting XI, and a move away from Old Trafford seemed the best way to reignite his career.

That tiny spark burst into a blaze as the Englishman lit up the top-flight, scoring nine times and assisting on four occasions in 16 appearances in the league.

Jesse Lingard 2020-21 West Ham Premier LeagueAppearances (starts)16 (16)Minutes played1,424Goals9Assists4(Source: Sofascore)

Moyes deployed him in a free number 10 position as the United stray pretty much single-handedly took the Hammers to European football.

Although the move never materialised on a permanent basis, the lore of Lingard in those few months will never be forgotten and is something a fellow Manchester reject shall look to emanate under the Scotsman.

Speaking on talkSPORT (11 August), both former Rangers striker Ally McCoist and ex-Aston Villa teammate to Grealish Gabby Agbonlahor highlighted how the move could signal the “un-Pepifying” of the 29-year-old.

The former Villain touched on how Moyes will say “Jack [Grealish], get on that ball and make things happen for me”.

The panel was unanimous in their belief that the City outcast will thrive under the former Real Sociedad manager

The ex-United boss has a wonderful track record of developing number 10s by allowing them the freedom to manipulate creativity at their feet.

Whether it was Jesse Lingard at West Ham or even nurturing a young Ross Barkley at Everton, the history books show this is likely to be a move that will prosper.

At a time in his career where the Villa academy graduate is looking to catch Thomas Tuchel’s attention to get on the plane to the World Cup, his performance levels will likely go through the roof.

Maybe this was Guardiola’s plan all along, to make his number 10 feel so dejected that a move away brings him back to his finest level, but that is just hypothesising.

Nevertheless, you would be brave to back against Grealish relishing his new role and freedom under the Scottish boss as he breaks the chains of the Spaniard.

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