He’s “world-class”: Everton already sold a more exciting star than Grealish

da dobrowin： Everton’s 2024/25 campaign has begun with more firepower than fans have been used to in recent years.

da leao： After seasons of scraping survival, the Toffees finally look to have rediscovered some swagger in the final third.

Their summer recruitment was targeted and bold, bringing in attacking reinforcements that have re-energised David Moyes’ side.

However, the season opener ended in disappointment with a narrow 1-0 defeat away at a hostile Elland Road against Leeds United.

But rather than spiral, Everton bounced back in style. They started life at the Hill Dickinson Stadium with a 2-0 victory over Brighton, showcasing a fluid front line.

A 3-2 away win at Molineux underlined their growing confidence, even if defensive gaps remain.

Draws against Aston Villa and a spirited Merseyside derby defeat to Liverpool followed, leaving the Toffees in 10th place and comfortably clear of early relegation chatter.

The underlying metrics point to a promising attacking direction.

Everton have generated 7.1 expected goals (xG) so far, the seventh-most in the league – ahead of Liverpool, who sit on 7.0.

For a club that in recent years ranked near the bottom in attacking output, this marks a dramatic shift.

Much of that change has been inspired by a rejuvenated front four, headlined by Jack Grealish alongside Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Iliman Ndiaye and Beto.

Grealish at the heart of it all for Everton

Grealish’s arrival at Everton raised eyebrows in the summer.

Once a £100m man at Manchester City, his stock had fallen dramatically after two injury-hit seasons that restricted him to just 721 minutes of league action last term.

Now 30, with a market value hovering around €28m (£25m), as per Transfermarkt, Grealish was seen as a gamble – albeit one with huge upside potential. So far, he has delivered.

Across the opening five games, Grealish has registered four assists in 377 minutes of football, immediately placing himself at the core of Moyes’ side.

His ability to glide past defenders and draw fouls has given Everton a new dimension, one that unsettles even the most organised back lines.

For Grealish personally, this spell at Everton represents a crossroads.

England manager Thomas Tuchel has already made it clear that consistent minutes are essential if Grealish is to earn his way back into the international fold.

Left out of the most recent Three Lions squad, he must prove himself week in, week out.

If his body holds up, Everton may have found themselves a creative force capable of driving them towards a top-half finish, far removed from the relegation battles of recent memory.

As promising as Grealish’s revival is, however, Evertonians may be forgiven for wondering what might have been with Ademola Lookman.

How Lookman compares to Grealish

Signed from Charlton in 2017 as one of the most exciting English prospects, Lookman struggled for opportunities at Goodison Park.

He made just 48 appearances, scoring two goals, before being sold to RB Leipzig in 2019.

Since then, his trajectory has skyrocketed. Now 27 and valued at around €60m (£55m), Lookman has flourished at Atalanta in Serie A.

His defining moment came when he scored a sensational hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, ending Xabi Alonso’s hopes of an unbeaten treble.

That performance propelled him into global recognition, having even attended the Ballon d’Or ceremony in 2024 as a nominee, a remarkable achievement for a player once deemed surplus to requirements on Merseyside.

Stylistically, Lookman has blossomed into a dynamic forward in the mould of Mohamed Salah or Alexander Isak.

His 2024/25 numbers highlight his evolution into an elite attacker: 20 goal involvements, 5.68 progressive carries per 90 and 5.41 shot-creating actions per 90 underline his ability to influence games at the very highest level.

Ademola Lookman – 2024/25

Matches Played

31

Goals

15

Assists

5

Progressive Carries

142

Progressive Passes

73

Source: FBref

The BBC’s John Bennett has gone as far as to describe him as “world-class” – praise unthinkable during his Everton days.

For Everton, Lookman is a painful reminder of their past failings in player development.

They once had a potential Ballon d’Or nominee in their ranks, but failed to provide the pathway or patience he required.

While Grealish offers present inspiration, Lookman embodies the “what if?” that continues to haunt supporters who dream of what could have been had the club harnessed his talent.