Jack Grealish transfer damages Premier League integrity and nobody seems to care

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Crystal Palace’s smooth start to the season hit its first serious bump in the road when Oliver Glasner’s side were beaten by Everton in the most recent round of Premier League fixtures. The defeat meant Palace were overtaken by Manchester City in the table, Pep Guardiola’s side now a point and a place ahead in fifth position.

On the resumption of the club programme, City themselves face an Everton team whose mild rejuvenation at a new stadium can only have been enhanced by that late winner in the 2-1 victory over Palace. David Moyes’ men should be buoyant going to the Etihad - well, as buoyant as any team that has not won at a particular venue in fifteen years can be.

As buoyant as any team managed by a coach who has been beaten thirteen times by Guardiola, drawing on three occasions and winning only once can be. It is a tall order for Everton but in the context of their decent opening to the season, it is even taller....because Moyes is forbidden from fielding his best team at the Etihad next Saturday.

Moyes is forbidden from fielding the team that snatched a great victory over Palace. Moyes is forbidden from fielding the player who scored the late winner in the game, the player who has been, arguably, the club’s outstanding performer this season.

How can that be right? Crystal Palace, now a point behind Guardiola’s team, had to face an Everton side that is, in effect, ordered by the Premier League to be WEAKER against Manchester City. They facilitate the agreement that says an on-loan player cannot play against his employer.

How can that be fair? But that is just one aspect of a Premier League loan system that fundamentally undermines the integrity of the competition.

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And no-one seems to care about it. No-one at all. The rules are the same for everyone etc, etc. True, but not everyone can borrow Jack Grealish, the £100million man.

If he is not running the show against your side or scoring added-time winners against your side, there cannot be many fans up and down the country who are not pleased to see Grealish playing well and enjoying his football. More than a lot of those fans, I most certainly am.

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But Grealish’s fine form for Everton and his enforced exclusion from their next match is a reminder of the Premier League loan system’s fundamental flaws. Premier League clubs earn enough money to actually buy their own players, not ask for favours.

With typical enthusiasm, Grealish has bought into all things Everton but he remains a Manchester City employee. There is a lot of talk about how it would be great if Grealish makes Hill Dickinson Stadium his permanent home. And it sure would.

But the chances of that are slim. If Grealish has a great season and a European powerhouse comes in for him, would he stay at Everton (assuming they are not in the Champions League)? Almost certainly not.

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Aston Villa is a big club but Marcus Rashford always had his sights set on something bigger during his loan spell under Unai Emery. Loan moves are - and always have been - moves of convenience. Grealish certainly needed game-time in a season that precedes a World Cup and Everton needed a box-office talent to light up a flash new home on the banks of the Mersey.

As for Manchester City, even a fraction of Grealish’s salary off the wage bill for 12 months is useful. Happy days for everyone…except for the integrity of the Premier League.

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