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Jack Grealish could “play for any club in the world”, Steve Bruce has told GOAL, with the former Aston Villa manager explaining why the England international forward is “too good” not to land regular game time somewhere before the summer transfer window shuts. The 30-year-old, who spent time on loan at Everton last season, has now emerged as a target for Sunderland.

Everton loan and return to Man City

An untimely injury, suffered during a meeting with his boyhood club Aston Villa, cut short Grealish’s spell on Merseyside. He had briefly rediscovered both form and fitness with the Toffees, even picking up a Premier League Player of the Month award early in the 2025-26 season.

Everton’s season-long loan deal included an option to buy, but the £50 million ($68m) figure written into that clause was always viewed as slightly too expensive for it to be activated. Talks over a possible compromise had been expected.

Grealish has since gone back to the Etihad Stadium and has featured for City in pre-season as well as in their opening Premier League match of 2026-27. A new chapter has begun in Manchester, with Enzo Maresca stepping in to take on the task of following Pep Guardiola, but not every player is likely to be handed a completely fresh start.

That could include Grealish, with Sunderland reportedly having put a loan proposal on the table. Bruce, who worked with the gifted playmaker in the West Midlands, is not surprised that a proven performer and big personality is attracting interest.

Where will Grealish end up?

Speaking to GOAL, Bruce said when asked about Grealish’s immediate future: “Who can afford him? I mean, he's obviously paid handsomely. It's only three, four, five years ago where he went for £100 million.

“He's been unfortunate, Jack. Just when he was sparkling again at Everton, he's picked up a nasty injury, and I feel for him now. No player wants that.

“He had 10, 15 minutes the other day [for City], and they've turned the game around in a little bit. There's a lot of clubs who would love Jack Grealish, I'm sure of that. Who knows? If Jack's right, then we all know that he can play for any club in the world.”

Sunderland have made loan offer

Asked whether Grealish is too talented to be reduced to a peripheral role - coming on now and then from the bench - and deserves far more than that, Bruce added: “He's too good, yeah. But as I said, the circumstances...

“Look, he was sparkling at Everton. The Evertonians absolutely loved him, and they would do. You know, he's a real class act when he's right, physically. And all of a sudden, unfortunately, he's picked up an injury which ruled him out for four, five months.

“It'll be interesting to see in the last week of the window. Thankfully, he's fit, and he's available to play, which for Jack is a good thing, because when he was young with me, he had an awful injury and was out for six months with a kidney. He damaged his kidney and tore one and was in an awful, awful situation for a lot of weeks.

“So, let's hope he stays physically well, and let's see what happens. And if he doesn't get a move, then certainly he's good enough with his talent to be in and around the City squad, that's for sure.”

£100m transfer and Treble triumph

Grealish became the most expensive player in British football when he joined City from Villa in the Premier League’s first £100 million ($136m) transfer in 2021. He was part of the Blues side that completed a historic Treble in 2022-23.

He has won seven trophies in total at the Etihad and that haul includes three top-flight titles, while he has also made 158 appearances. That stage of his career could now be nearing its end, with Sunderland likely to face competition for Grealish’s signature before the September 1 deadline.