‘We put in calls’ – Sean Dyche makes surprise Jack Grealish Everton transfer claim

Sean Dyche revealed that Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall were his transfer targets 12 months ago at Everton.

Dyche was sacked as Toffees boss in January, with David Moyes stepping in to take over for the final few months at Goodison Park.

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It’s a new era for Everton as they moved into Hill Dickinson Stadium and have started the season on fire.

They have won two of their three opening Premier League games to go fifth over the international break.

Moyes has been backed in the transfer with £117million spent plus the addition of Grealish on loan from Man City.

Remarkably, the 29-year-old already has four assists to his name.

Joining talkSPORT alongside Jonny Owen on Sunday, Dyche revealed that calls had been made over the possibility of signing Grealish last summer.

“I respect David Moyes and what he’s done,” Dyche told talkSPORT. “But he’ll know that we were trying to sign a lot of those players last year. 

“You can’t get them over the line, whether it’s money, but you just can’t get the deals done. We went in for Dewsbury-Hall and Jack Grealish.

“I don’t mean we’re close. What I mean is we’re putting out the calls. 

“Kev Thelwell was going into these situations saying, right, can we? You get in there early and you just keep registering your interest, but you can’t sign everyone.

“They’ve come in and they’ve done great. There are other players who are doing great, some of the players already there. Michael Keane’s back in the side, whether it be the injured Jarrad Brantwaite, of course.”

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Jack Grealish comeback

Grealish saw his role at Man City under Pep Guardiola increasingly diminish and was largely relegated to a bit-part role.

He made just seven Premier League starts last season, claiming one goal and one assist.

Dyche believes Grealish is thriving as a big fish in a small pond at Everton.

Dyche continued: “[Moyes] He’s signed some very good players. I think Grealish, not questioning Pep Guardiola or their style at all, but Pep wants you to pop it and move more.

“But he carries it, doesn’t he? He’s carried it well so far. Maybe that bigger fish in a smaller pool suits him. 

“He’s a fantastic player and I think he started fantastically well. That one player can rub off on another player.”

Grealish will face a reunion with his former club Aston Villa in Everton’s next match on Saturday, September 13.