Grealish and Alcaraz at a Crossroads: Two Different Problems Threatening Moyes' Everton Plans
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- Jack Grealish absen tiga laga akibat pelanggaran disiplin, memicu spekulasi pemutusan pinjaman pada Januari.
- Carlos Alcaraz minim menit bermain sejak dibeli permanen Rp275 miliar, terancam hengkang musim dingin.
- Everton mengejar tiket Eropa, tetapi harus bereskan persoalan internal sebelum bursa transfer dibuka.
Everton are facing a double dilemma ahead of the January transfer window. Two players signed with high expectations, Jack Grealish and Carlos Alcaraz, are instead on their way out of Hill Dickinson Stadium. Grealish is mired in a disciplinary case, while Alcaraz has failed to break into David Moyes' starting XI.
Grealish has missed the last three matches, including the 3-1 win over Coventry City on Friday (14/3) night WIB. Everton's management has not released an official statement on the nature of the violation committed by the player on loan from Manchester City. Moyes also declined to set a deadline for when the 31-year-old will return to training with the first team.
Grealish's absence is not without impact. He earns around £300 thousand per week, a figure that does not match his contribution this season. Since December, the former Aston Villa star has neither scored nor assisted in the Premier League. Everton's strong form has actually come while Grealish watches from the sidelines.
"We will not set a deadline. What is clear is that he must sort out his affairs first," Moyes said, as quoted by Football FanCast, without detailing the internal sanction imposed.
On the other hand, Alcaraz is a different matter. The Argentine midfielder was signed permanently from Flamengo in the summer of 2025 for a fee of £13 million (around Rp275 billion). However, his first season was bitter: ten Premier League matches missed through injury, eight times an unused substitute, and only six starts.
This season is not much different. From five league appearances, Alcaraz has collected only 33 minutes of playing time. He has more often warmed the bench. In the win over Coventry, he was given just one minute at the end of the match. Moyes clearly does not see him as a main option in midfield.
Moyes' decision not to use Alcaraz regularly indicates that the player is not part of the long-term projection. With his contract still running, selling or loaning out Alcaraz in January could be the best solution for all parties. The player needs minutes to develop his career, while Everton can save on wage space.
For Grealish, the situation is more complicated. The player, still under contract with Manchester City until 2027, actually came to Everton to revive a fading career. However, the disciplinary incident has reduced the trust of the public and the coaching staff. Terminating the loan early is a logical option, especially if his performances on the pitch also show no signs of improvement.
Everton are currently on the right track to compete in European competition next season. However, that ambition could be disrupted if internal problems are not resolved soon. Moyes is being pressed to make a firm decision, even if it means sacrificing a big name.
If Grealish and Alcaraz do leave in January, Everton have a chance to sign players who better fit their tactical needs. The question is whether the management is ready to take such a radical step, or will instead stick with the existing options for the sake of squad stability?
