Manchester City May Spend Record $142M To Sign A Man Utd Top Target: Report

Manchester City are reportedly planning to buy Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish, who is also one of United’s top targets this summer.

Pep Guardiola has been a long-time admirer of Grealish, and City are willing to spend $142 million (£100million) to sign the young midfielder this summer, reported soccer website Teamtalk. If the deal does go through, Grealish would become English football’s first-ever £100 million player.

Despite winning three Premier League titles in four seasons now, Manchester City are still looking to bolster their squad for the 2021-22 campaign.

After escaping relegation on the last day of the league last season, Aston Villa had a much better run in 2020-21 as they finished 11th on the table, ahead of the likes of Wolves, Crystal Palace and Newcastle. In 27 competitive appearances for the Villa Park club this season, Grealish netted seven goals and provided 12 assists.

Grealish, who was heavily linked with Manchester United last summer, recently signed a long-term deal that would see him an Aston Villa player until 2025. However, it has been reported even though Aston Villa are not keen on selling Grealish, the club won't entertain any bids less than the British record fee, according to sports news website Givemesport. With City ready to splurge as high as $142 million on Grealish, it would be difficult for Aston Villa to refuse the deal and as well as Manchester United to match or exceed it, especially in the current scenario where many soccer clubs are suffering financial crisis due to the pandemic.

It was previously reported a few Manchester United players have urged Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to sign Grealish this summer instead of Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho. However, it is understood Solskjaer will still prioritize Sancho at the summer market. While the Red Devils’ current requirement is to add a right-winger to their squad, Grealish naturally plays on the left.

Earlier this month, Grealish's agent Jonathan Barnett dismissed any possibility of his client moving to Old Trafford any time soon.

"The truth is we don't know [what will happen]. There are many clubs and I wouldn't put Manchester United at the top of that [list]. But he could stay as well. So, it's a conversation the club, Aston Villa, will have with Jack and ourselves then we’ll see where we go," Teamtalk quoted Barnett as saying in an interview.