Sean Dyche believes Jack Grealish should be staying in the Premier League if he ends up leaving Manchester City this summer.
The experienced manager believes a ‘maverick’ like Grealish is needed in a squad, amid links to a transfer away to Saudi Arabia.
talkSPORT understands that there is interest from the Saudi Pro League for the winger, who spent last season with Everton.
Al Hilal are an option for Grealish this summer, with the club pursuing another attacker, including his ex-Toffees teammate Illiman Ndiaye, having already signed Crysencio Summerville from West Ham.
Man City are keen on selling the 30-year-old on a permanent deal, as he is entering the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium.
But if he does leave, Dyche wants him to remain in the Premier League, admitting he is a fan of Grealish’s ‘arrogance’.
Appearing in the talkSPORT studio, the former Burnley, Nottingham Forest and Everton boss was asked by talkSPORT’s chief football correspondent Alex Crook as to whether modern-day managers distrust maverick players, with Grealish described as ‘non-conformative’.
To which Dyche quipped: “I think there might have been a bit of distrust when he was coming out of Albert Schloss [bar] a few times!
“I think Pep [Guardiola] was going: ‘No, that’s not ideal.'”
Before Dyche then added: “No, I know what you mean, I quite like a bit of arrogance.
“Not arrogance, controlled arrogance, a bit of Maverick spirit, a bit of an edge to players – on and off the pitch.
“I don’t think that’s a problem, but if it doesn’t fit with what the business side of it is… because at the end of the day, it’s fine when it fits.
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“I don’t think there’s a problem, to be fair, with maverick players, but they have to fit and do the job.
“You can only be a maverick if you’re doing the job.
“There are no mavericks who weren’t doing the job who become mavericks of a club because they get them out.
“They go, ‘No, if you’re not doing the job, you’re not doing the job.’
“But most teams need a maverick or two, they’re the ones that make it click.”
When pressed whether a change of scenery could be a good thing for maverick players, Dyche simply stated: “Sometimes taking a step backwards to go forwards can be the case.”
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Maresca on Grealish’s future
So, Dyche thinks a potential move could help get the best out of Grealish again heading into the new season.
But could he end up staying at Man City under new boss Enzo Maresca?
“At the moment, he’s here. He’s a Man City player,” Maresca said on Friday when he was asked about the winger.
“I always said the same. In any club I join, I like to know if there are players that belong to the club. It’s my duty to try to coach them.
“Jack is here. I have a good relationship with Jack since I left. Also, we keep in touch, and the reason why is because he has a big heart and he’s a very good guy.
“So this is the reason why. And then we see what happens.”
