Jack Grealish has forced his way back into Manchester City's plans this season, but questions remain over whether the winger will still be at the Etihad Stadium once the transfer window closes.
The 30-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Everton, has featured in City's opening two fixtures of the campaign under new manager Enzo Maresca. Grealish came off the bench during the Community Shield loss to Arsenal and later played the closing stages of City's dramatic comeback victory over Bournemouth in their Premier League season opener on Sunday.
His appearance against Bournemouth marked a notable moment for a player who had been frozen out by former manager Pep Guardiola before being sent out on loan. Grealish appeared relaxed on the bench during the match and later took to social media to thank supporters for the reception he received on his return to home turf.
Grealish is currently in the final year of a contract reportedly worth £300,000 a week, and his long-term future at City remains unresolved. With the transfer deadline approaching on Tuesday, 1 September, club sources indicate that all possibilities remain open, whether that means staying at City, going out on loan once again, or departing permanently.
The England international missed City's pre-season tour of the Far East after suffering a fitness setback, despite having trained with the squad when players reported back in mid-July. He has reportedly used Guardiola's exit as motivation for a fresh start, impressing enough in training to earn a recall to the matchday squad.
Maresca, who succeeded Guardiola this summer, has been non-committal about Grealish's future but confirmed his focus is on getting the best from the player while he remains at the club. "He is here and it is my duty to coach Jack and to try to get the best," Maresca said following the win over Bournemouth. "Then it is one more week to go and we will see what happens. Not only with Jack but also other players."
Grealish's loan spell at Everton last season showed signs of a player rediscovering his best form before it was interrupted by an Achilles tendon injury in January. In 20 appearances for the Toffees, he registered two goals and six assists. His performances earlier in the campaign were strong enough to earn him the Premier League's Player of the Month award for August, and he quickly built a strong rapport with the Everton fanbase.
Despite that connection, City sources say no formal offers for Grealish have been made this summer, though a return to Merseyside is viewed as the most likely destination should he leave the Etihad. Everton have yet to make a concrete approach, but the club has made clear its continued interest in the winger.
Everton chief executive Angus Kinnear confirmed the club has stayed in touch with Grealish following his loan spell. "He is a player we have remained in contact with," Kinnear told BBC Radio Merseyside. "It was no secret he decided to have his injury rehabilitation done here for the remainder of last season - he didn't have to do that as he could have gone back to Manchester City."
Kinnear added: "He is a player who has fallen in love with the right shade of blue, but ultimately he is a City player and we have to respect that. What I do know is that the supporters and the team embraced him and treated him as one of our own. That gave us a good platform to have a longer term conversation with him. The most important thing is that he is back fit after he had a serious injury, so I was delighted to see him get some minutes in the Community Shield."
With just days remaining before the transfer window shuts, Grealish's next move - whether at City, Everton, or elsewhere - is expected to become clearer in the coming days.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport Football.