Jack Grealish is close to joining Manchester City from Aston Villa on a five-year contract. Talks are in their final stages and, barring an unexpected hitch, the playmaker will move for about £100m.
Villa have tried hard to keep Grealish, offering an improved deal, but a transfer for a record fee between English clubs is poised to be completed. The 25-year-old has spent his whole career with his boyhood team.
City are also keen to sign Harry Kane, who has stayed away from Tottenham this week in the hope of forcing a move. The Spurs chairman, Daniel Levy, does not want to sell and it would take an offer substantially above the £100m already rejected for a deal to go through. Spurs expect Kane back this weekend.
City, Villa and Grealish’s representatives are involved in the last stage of negotiations on a day when Villa added to their attacking options by signing Leon Bailey from Bayer Leverkusen for about £30m.
Villa are also interested in Tammy Abraham and could bid for the striker, valued by Chelsea at £40m, with proceeds from the anticipated sale of Grealish, whose move would smash City’s transfer record.