Jack Grealish, an England player presently on loan at Everton, is best known for his Manchester City exploits, but Championship fans still remember his second-tier days at Aston Villa.

The attacking midfielder won the Villa play-off final in 2019, following an excellent season in which he scored six goals and assisted seven times.

Grealish went on to help his boyhood club re-establish itself as a strong Premier League outfit before signing Manchester City in the summer of 2021.

The 30-year-old has two goals and six assists for Everton this season, but has not played since January due to a season-ending foot injury.

Jack Grealish laughs about Sheffield Wednesday’s transfer in return for a Team GB athlete.

Grealish became surplus to requirements at Manchester City and struggled for playing time last season.

However, the former Villa player will most certainly be a crucial player for David Moyes’ side if he signs a permanent deal with Everton once he regains fitness.

Meanwhile, the former Championship hero recently paid a visit to a group of Special Olympics GB participants who had just finished the London Marathon.

In footage published by BBC Sport, Grealish joked about signing for Sheffield Wednesday with one of the sportsmen, who disclosed that he supports the Owls.

The Everton player asked, “Is that who you support, Sheffield Wednesday?” I had a good friend, Barry Bannan, who used to play for them.Is he a legend there? Let’s see what happens next year. “I could be in Sheffield on Wednesday.”

As Grealish mentioned, Bannan earned legendary status at Hillsborough Stadium before leaving the Owls to join Millwall in the previous transfer window, during the South Yorkshire club’s administration.

The former Scotland international and the England man were Villa teammates, though the current Everton great did not make his debut until after the eventual Owls ace had left the West Midlands.

Bannan joined Wednesday from Crystal Palace in the summer of 2015, spending a decade and a half at Hillsborough Stadium before moving to Millwall.

The 36-year-old is now hoping to help the Lions secure promotion to the Premier League.

Millwall are only one point behind second-place Ipswich Town with one Championship game remaining, giving them every chance of gaining promotion to the top level.

If the Lions overcome already relegated Oxford United on Saturday and Ipswich drop points against Queens Park Rangers, Alex Neil’s side will be guaranteed a place in the Premier League next season.

Barry Bannan’s return would boost Owls optimism amid David Storch takeover developments.

Despite his lighthearted exchange with a Special Olympics GB athlete who is a Wednesday supporter, Grealish is unlikely to join with the Owls before retiring.

However, according to the Wednesday Word, the South Yorkshire club has held internal discussions about bringing Bannan back to Hillsborough ahead of the new season.

There is plenty of cautious hope among Owls fans, as David Storch is still hoping to complete his takeover by Friday, and the S6 faithful would be even happier if the purchase was followed by Bannan’s return.