Everton hope to strike a second deal with Manchester City for Jack Grealish and to bring the England international back to Hill Dickinson Stadium next season.
Grealish is on loan from the Carabao Cup winners for the rest of the campaign and Everton have an option to buy him for £50m.
While they are not likely to take that up – and that would require a club record fee – David Moyes is keen to keep Grealish. A loan is the likeliest scenario though it is probable nothing will be arranged until after the end of this season.
Grealish, who has not played since January, is expected to miss the remainder of the campaign with a foot injury.
But he made an immediate impact after joining, winning the Premier League player-of-the-month award for August.
While he has not played for 10 weeks, only three players in the division have more than his six assists, while he has also scored twice.
Grealish has a season left on his contract at City after signing a six-year deal when he joined from Aston Villa for a British record £100m in 2021.
But he has been surplus to requirements after losing his place last season and being omitted from the squad for the Club World Cup.
Manager Pep Guardiola has signed a series of other wingers and attacking midfielders, including Omar Marmoush last January, Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders last summer and then Antoine Semenyo three months ago, signalling that he sees no way back for Grealish.
City have hoped to bring in a transfer fee for Grealish, who scored 17 goals in 157 games for them, but Everton’s preference could be to borrow him again.