Manchester City's hopes of signing Jack Grealish this summer have taken a blow, as Aston Villa prepare to offer him a £200k per week deal to keep him at Villa Park.
What's the word?
According to the Daily Mail, Villa are preparing a club-record contract offer for their influential captain, who has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester City so far this summer after his exceptional performances for club and country in recent seasons.
Recent reports have also suggested that the 25-year-old was having second thoughts about a switch to the Etihad this summer and this new bumper contract with Dean Smith's side could well be enough to convince him to stay with the Villans.
A blow for Guardiola?
It seems clear at the moment that Grealish and Harry Kane are City's two top targets for the summer but Guardiola's side kick off their campaign in less than two weeks when they take on Leicester City in the Community Shield at Wembley, and neither player looks to be any closer to joining than they were at the start of the transfer window.
Whilst the Spanish manager already has a plethora of attacking options in his side, Grealish was one of the standout performers in the Premier League last season, contributing six goals and 10 assists in just 26 Premier League appearances, averaging a hugely impressive 7.56 rating from WhoScored for his performances.
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Guardiola is clearly a huge fan of Grealish, as he praised him back in 2019, saying:
“He is an incredible, incredible player - top player. I am happy for the fact he is an Aston Villa player and he got offers to move on but decided to stay there in the Championship.
“I like that they were promoted to the Premier League and he defended his club. He is a talented player - fast in the final third, passes, always creates something.
“He's an exceptional player but too expensive for Manchester City!”
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Unfortunately for the City manager, it seems as if his prediction that he would be too expensive for City may still be true two years later, as it seems unlikely that a move for the £58.5m-rated attacker will still be on the cards should he commit to a new long-term contract at Aston Villa. Pep will be gutted to miss out on a deal for the England star.
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