Everton have been hopeful of signing Jack Grealish again, but the winger’s return is starting to feel more and more unlikely.
Jack Grealish spent last season on loan with the Toffees, but was limited to just half a season after picking up a foot injury in January.
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That ruled him out for the rest of the campaign, and in the last couple of weeks he has gone back to City.
He is now training with the the squad there under new manager Enzo Maresca, and there have been suggestions he could get a new lease of life under the Italian.
And now, Everton are being linked with a player who could well be an alternative to the Englishman.
Everton interested in Jens Petter Hauge
According to TEAMtalk, Everton are showing interest in Bodo Glimt winger Jens Petter Hauge.
The new claim comes after reports last Christmas that Everton had ‘made checks’ on Hauge.
Hauge has impressed in recent times with his creativity and unpredictability, and played a starring role in Bodo’s Champions League campaign.
He has now drawn interest from several clubs, including Everton, and the Toffees’ interest may well indicate that the pursuit of Grealish is not going well.
Hauge is someone who exclusively played on the left wing last season.
He has actually had two spells with Bodo and also been on loan with them, making 231 appearances in total. Of those 231 appearances, he has been recognised as playing on the left wing at least 131 times.
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So if Everton moved for him it’s fairly safe to assume he would operate on that side, in Grealish’s position.
Hauge – who made just one cameo appearance for Norway at the 2026 World Cup – also plays in a way that is not dissimilar to Grealish.
He tends to cut in on his strong right foot a lot, and is decent at drawing fouls – something Grealish is famed for.
But he has more pace than the former Everton man, and tends to work best when he has his full-back isolated and can be direct, making use of his speed.
It has been suggested that a fee in the region of £30 million could be enough to prise him away from Bodo.
That would be a fair whack to pay for someone playing in the Norwegian top-flight. But his output of 39 goals and 23 assists in 144 games in the competition is encouraging.
With it all going silent on Grealish after reports Everton remained confident of re-signing him, it may well be that Hauge is now seen as an alternative wide option.
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