Jack Grealish denies contact with England officials

Jack Grealish has not opened negotiations with England with a view to defecting from Ireland.

Sources close to the player have dismissed suggestions that he or his family have, as England manager Roy Hodgson put it on Saturday — “initiated” discussions — to switch allegiance.

It would appear that, although the agent representing Grealish has spoken to English FA officials about the 19-year-old, this ultimate decision of this subject is beyond their influence.