David Moyes resigned to being without Jack Grealish for rest of Everton’s season

Surgery on a fractured foot means Jack Grealish is unlikely to play for Everton again this season, ending his outside shot at England’s World Cup squad

Everton will continue to pay Jack Grealish’s wages and manage his recovery from a fractured foot despite being resigned to losing the on-loan forward for the rest of the season.

Grealish’s season and outside hopes of making England’s World Cup squad are effectively over with the 30-year-old expected to undergo surgery on the injury. A final decision will be taken in conjunction with his parent club, Manchester City, but under the terms of last summer’s loan move – which will cost Everton in the region of £12m – there is no option to cut the deal short.

“These situations [whether to operate] would normally be taken over by the parent club. I think that at the moment we’re going to probably control most of Jack’s situation.” said David Moyes. Asked whether Grealish could return to City early, the Everton managed replied: “No. And you wouldn’t for the money.”

Grealish has been revitalised at Everton following a difficult period at City, producing six Premier League assists, but the finances required for a permanent transfer mean he might have played his final game for the club.

Everton have an option to buy Grealish for £50m this summer, when he will have only 12 months remaining on his City contract, but Moyes insisted it was “far too early” for a long-term decision. He wants to add to his squad before Monday’s transfer deadline with a right back and striker on his wish-list. Moyes admitted the club have been trying to sign a new right-back for over a year without success, and while he wants to improve the squad in this window, Everton’s owners, The Friedkin Group, may prefer to wait until the summer.

“I think the club have got a little bit of that,” said Moyes on waiting for the summer window. “I would like to improve, I don’t want to miss any opportunity where I can improve Everton. I get it that we’ve got to remember we are just out of financial problems, so if anybody is out there thinking we are going to spend £40m on somebody then we are not in that place at the moment.

“That’s not to say we couldn’t do it in the summer, but I don’t think we are really in that place yet. But if I have my way, I think we need to. And obviously losing Jack Grealish as well is a big blow to us regarding limiting our attacking options.”

Everton could replace Grealish with Chelsea’s Tyrique George. The left winger is available on loan and has attracted interest from several Premier League and European clubs.