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Football

04th Aug 2021

Jack Grealish “on the brink” of Manchester City move

Simon Lloyd

We go again

It’s been quite a week for Manchester City transfer news, hasn’t it? While most of the focus has been on the implications of Harry Kane not bothering to turn in for training at Tottenham, it now seems Jack Grealish – at the heart of the other City-related transfer saga this summer – is close to finally sealing his move to The Etihad.

The 25-year-old has been frequently linked with a move away from Aston Villa since he helped them return to the Premier League a couple of years back, only for nothing to materialise.

In recent weeks, however, talk that an English transfer record-shattering move to City has intensified, with Pep Guardiola said to be desperate to add him to his squad.

It was claimed last week that City had tabled a bid of around £100m for Grealish. It’s now being reported that Villa are on course to accept that offer – possibly, according to the Mail, as soon as today.

The playmaker has been with Villa since the age of six, and penned a contract extension before the start of last season. Another improved offer was made to him before he joined up with the England squad at Euro 2020.

Though Villa hoped he would stay with the club, The Athletic write that they they respect his desire to play in the Champions League and would not stop him from leaving should a satisfactory offer arrive. Grealish is also said to have made it clear that he would only leave his boyhood club if the offer was right for them.

City’s pursuit of Kane, meanwhile, appears to have taken a backseat for the time being as a deal for Grealish takes priority.

Reports yesterday suggested Kane would return to training with Spurs before the end of the week, and that the England captain felt the situation regarding his future had been “blown out of proportion”.

Despite Daniel Levy’s stance that he will not be heading to Manchester, it wouldn’t be a major surprise to see things change in the weeks to come should City stump up the right fee.

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