Everton agrees a £50m buy option for Jack Grealish's loan deal after withdrawing interest in a similar price tag for the permanent signing of an in-form younger alternative, Tyler Dibling.
It's been just the inaugural Championship matchday, and the Premier League action is awaiting kickoff, yet English football feels peaking. Now, most will cite the recent Liverpool upset as its primary reason, but ask Saints supporters who have a ton of instances to support this.
That's because, apart from giving the whole division one of the best season thrillers, Saints transfer activity has been quite entertaining to follow. And even if not for the whole summer, the recent introduction of Jack Grealish in the Dibling saga has hardly left any fan unspoken.
But discussing Grealish's case feels unfair without mentioning Everton's name. After all, they have been the central figure in presenting how Premier League stars can be a backup for Championship prodigies, too.
Interestingly, having started the hot debate between the quality of the Top Flight and the Championship, Everton isn't stopping just yet. And here comes their next move as they attract the eyeballs of football fans all over by actually finalising a move for Jack Grealish.
Recently, Transfer Expert Fabrizio Romano gave his signature 'Here We Go' for Grealish to Everton, quoting: "Jack Grealish to Everton, here we go! Loan deal agreed with Man City and medical booked later today."
Everton's Jack Grealish choice has the Saints still making sense
Well, having materialised what most took as a frustration-led interest, Everton has surprised English fans. But despite falling in the United Region, the St. Mary's response has been more confused than shocked.
It's because of Grealish's Everton transfer terms, where the Toffees agreed on a buy option for a staggering £50m price. Now, not doubting Grealish's abilities, who can again rise to the status of a hero like in his Aston Villa days, but this valuation would raise eyebrows of Saints fans for sure.
That's rightly so, as it's the same price point at which Everton decided to move past their Dibling interest. And though not a mandatory buy clause for Grealish, questions would be raised as to what made Everton go for a much older option than Dibling, particularly given that the Saints prodigy cleared Grealish in almost all aspects last season.
But truth be told, all such reactions are nothing but instantaneity from the Saints who would be over the moon to have Dibling included in their lineup from the next matchday again. At least, that's the hope unless any Top Flight suit reopens the by-far finished Dibling saga again.