Jack Grealish has offered his backing to Oleksandr Zinchenko after the defender confirmed he had undergone an operation. The pair previously shared a dressing room at Manchester City, and Grealish reacted swiftly on social media with a blue heart and praying hands in response to Zinchenko’s update.
Zinchenko revealed on Instagram that he had successfully had surgery following a serious knee problem sustained during his home debut for Ajax. The Ukrainian suffered the injury just two minutes into the match and was visibly devastated as he left the pitch. He acknowledged that a demanding rehabilitation period now lies ahead.
Injury woes for both players
Grealish himself has recently had a procedure after a foot issue effectively ended his campaign at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Although his loan spell from Manchester City has been largely encouraging, uncertainty surrounds his long-term future at Everton.
Manager David Moyes has avoided giving a clear answer on whether the winger will remain, meaning a decision is expected in the near future.
Everton’s changing fortunes
Zinchenko’s move to Ajax came in the winter window after a difficult temporary stint at Nottingham Forest earlier in the season. He joined the Dutch side permanently from Arsenal, but his start in the Netherlands quickly turned sour due to the injury setback.
Everton had previously shown interest in signing Zinchenko in 2022 while he was still at Manchester City. Chelsea and West Ham were also keen, yet the Ukraine international opted for a switch to Arsenal instead. At the time, he carried a £35 million valuation — a fee that, in hindsight, might have added to Everton’s financial strain during a period marked by heavy spending under Farhad Moshiri.
Now under the ownership of the Friedkin Group, with a new stadium and improved finances, Everton appear better placed to invest. The asking price to secure Grealish on a permanent deal this summer has reportedly dropped significantly from an initial £50 million figure. After years of restricted activity in the transfer market due to points deductions, the club is aiming to act more decisively — and hopes that begins with keeping Grealish.