Everton’s on-loan winger row could free up the wages for a £25m Man United forward in January

Marcus Rashford to Everton has always looked like a deal with a wage problem, and the Jack Grealish row may be the thing that solves it.

Former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness says talks over a January move for Rashford are “definitely” happening, though nothing is agreed. The question was always how Everton could fit a reported £300,000-a-week forward on top of Grealish, who earns about the same.

Thursday changed the conversation. Grealish was left out of the 3-1 Carabao Cup win over Newcastle for a breach of club discipline, and David Moyes said only: “It’s a club decision, so I support the decision.” Everton cannot realistically carry both salaries, but one in and one out is a very different sum.

Could Grealish’s wages pay for Marcus Rashford at Everton?

On paper, yes. Everton’s share of Grealish’s salary has been put at anywhere from 75 to 90 per cent, or around £225,000 to £270,000 a week. Wyness expects Rashford’s wages to be split down the middle, saying: “I think we’re looking at Man United and Everton paying 50 per cent of his wages each to start with.”

That would put Rashford at about £150,000 a week. Swap one for the other and Everton could actually save money, while getting a forward who is 28 rather than 31.

What would a Marcus Rashford deal look like?

Wyness believes it would begin as a loan: “It may start with a six-month loan and then an option to buy after that.” He puts that option at around £25m and thinks Everton would add a bonus linked to European qualification.

United could have reasons to listen. Rashford’s contract runs to 2028, he has neither scored nor assisted this season, and after starting seven games he lost his place before a hip problem kept him out. He has already had loan spells at Aston Villa and Barcelona in the last two seasons, and he is expected to leave Old Trafford for good next summer at the latest.

Where would Marcus Rashford play for Everton?

Grealish’s spot on the left is the obvious place, and the need is real. Everton have just eight league goals, they have been linked with a Dinamo Zagreb striker with 17 goals in 17 games, and Man City’s Rayan Ait-Nouri is on their radar for that flank too.

He would not walk in, though. Tyrique George has found some rhythm on that side, and his pressing played a big part in James Garner’s opener on Thursday.

Why the Grealish door may not be fully open

It is worth stressing that nobody at Everton has said the loan is ending. Former striker Jay Bothroyd thinks the punishment has already been served, saying: “You’re not going to get punished twice.” Moyes, asked about Monday’s trip to Newcastle, would only say: “I’d never give any team news away.”

If Grealish is back on Monday and playing well, this whole sum disappears.

Verdict: Rashford for Grealish makes more sense than it should

We would not have said this a week ago, but the swap has some logic to it. Everton get pace and a goal threat on a cheaper deal, with a sensible price if it works. The risk is obvious, because Rashford has not scored all season and Everton would be replacing one big name who has lost his way with another. But for a side this short of goals, at half the wages, we would make the call.