Jack Grealish must stay in the Premier League – teams need a maverick in their team
Sean Dyche believes Jack Grealish should stay in the Premier League if he ends up leaving Manchester City this summer.
The experienced manager believes that a ‘maverick’ like Grealish is needed at the club, amid transfer links to Saudi Arabia.
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talkSPORT understands there is interest from the Saudi Pro League for the defender, who spent last season with Everton.
Al Hilal are Grealish’s options this summer, with the club chasing another attacker, including former Toffees team-mate Illiman Ndiaye, who has already signed Crysencio Summerville from West Ham.
Man City are willing to sell the 30-year-old player on a permanent contract, as he will enter the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium.
But if he does leave, Dyche wants him to stay in the Premier League, admitting he is a fan of Grealish’s ‘arrogance’.
Appearing in the talkSPORT studio, the former Burnley, Nottingham Forest and Everton manager was asked by talkSPORT football reporter Alex Crook whether today’s managers don’t trust maverick players, with Grealish described as ‘inconsistent’.
Dyche joked about it: “I think there may have been some mistrust when he left Albert Schloss. [bar] several times!
“I think Pep [Guardiola] he said: ‘No, that’s not right.’
Before Dyche added: “No, I know what you mean, I like to brag.
“Not arrogance, controlled arrogance, a little Maverick spirit, an edge to the players – on and off the field.
“I don’t think that’s a problem, but if it doesn’t fit what the business side says… because at the end of the day, it’s fine if it fits.
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“I don’t think there is a problem, to be fair, with maverick players, but they have to be fair and do the job.
“You can only be a maverick if you do the work.
“There are no players who were not doing their job and turned into villains of the club because they sent them out.
“They go, ‘No, if you don’t do the work, you don’t do the work.’
“But most teams need a maverick or two, that’s what makes it click.”
When pressed on whether a change of scenery would be a good thing for maverick players, Dyche simply said: “Sometimes taking a step back to move forward can be.”
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Maresca on Grealish’s future
Dyche, therefore, thinks a potential move could help get the best out of Grealish again heading into the new season.
But could he end up staying at Man City under new manager Enzo Maresca?
“At the moment, he is here. He is a Man City player,” said Maresca on Friday when asked about the midfielder.
“I have always said the same. In any team I join, I like to know if there are any players under the team. It is my job to try to train them.
“Jack is there. I have a good relationship with Jack since I left. Also, we keep in touch, and that’s why he has a big heart and is a very nice guy.
“So this is the reason why. Then we’ll see what happens.”
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