Manchester City seem to be going all-in for Jack Grealish this summer, with the Premier League champions now in direct contact with Villa for the England international.
According to Sportsmail, they held meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday and negotiated an offer of around £100 million for their star player. City reportedly tried numerous ways to reach that figure, and they have now tabled a formal bid for him, hoping that they will have their man as soon as next week.
The 25-year-old was targeted by Manchester United in the past, and despite all rumours linking him to Old Trafford, he ended up staying at Villa Park. To end the transfer rumours, for the time being, he signed a contract extension with the club making him the highest-paid player in the squad, earning a salary of £160,000 per week.
And despite that, Villa are prepared to offer Grealish a new contract to keep him at the club. The new pay package could see him earn around £200,000 if he chooses to accept. However, Manchester City have the upper hand since they can provide him good money, as well as Champions League football. Aston Villa, on the other hand, are still a long way off European spots with the competition for the top six getting increasingly difficult.
Should Villa part ways with Grealish, he will be the most expensive transfer in English football history. The previous record signing was £89 million paid by Manchester United to Juventus for Paul Pogba.
