Eberechi Eze had perfect response to Germany stars mocking him over Jack Grealish move

Arsenal target Eberechi Eze has silenced his German critics who believed he couldn't match Jack Grealish's impact on the pitch. This comes as the Crystal Palace star finds himself courted by both the Gunners and Tottenham, while Grealish has just left Manchester City for a loan spell at Everton.

Looking at where both players stand today, there's little question about who is the more coveted talent right now. This vindicates those who questioned certain voices within the Germany setup regarding their assessment of the two wingers last year.

The saga dates back to Euro 2024 when then-England manager Gareth Southgate chose to select Eze ahead of Grealish in his squad. Eze, 27, was enjoying a meteoric rise at Selhurst Park during that period, while Grealish had begun to fall out of favour under Pep Guardiola's regime.

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Reports subsequently surfaced about the response from within the Germany camp, with many stunned by the decision. And Die Mannschaft were allegedly comfortable with the selection as they considered Grealish the more formidable opponent.

Insiders from the squad indicated the Germans viewed Grealish as someone who "provokes fear in opposition when he runs at them." They reportedly didn't regard Palace ace Eze as quite the same threat given his lower profile at a considerably smaller outfit.

Fast forward to the present day, and Eze has become a highly sought-after commodity, with the Guardian revealing Tottenham have initiated discussions to secure his signature. Nevertheless, it's understood the player, whose £68million release expires on Friday, would favour a switch to north London rivals Arsenal.

Eze, who ended the previous season with an impressive tally of 14 goals and 11 assists, was already making waves when Southgate rewarded him with a place at Euro 2024. Despite only playing 100 minutes during the tournament, where England finished as runners-up, his star has continued to rise.

The ex-Millwall and QPR player was instrumental in Crystal Palace's FA Cup victory last season. He also played a key role in the Eagles' surprise win over Liverpool in Sunday's Community Shield match at Wembley.

In contrast, Grealish has taken a step back after moving to Everton on loan. The winger only started 16 matches in all competitions under Guardiola last season and is keen to secure more regular playing time on Merseyside.

Grealish has represented his country 39 times so far, but it's been nearly 12 months since he last played for England. The 29-year-old has been left out of the last three international squads and hasn't yet made an appearance under Thomas Tuchel, who took the reins at the beginning of the year.

On the other hand, Eze has been included in each of Tuchel's squads to date and scored in his first match under the new manager, a 3-0 victory over Latvia. He'll be hoping to keep his spot in the team for next month's 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Andorra (Sept. 6) and Serbia (Sept. 9).