Manchester City are now reportedly leading the race for Aston Villa star Jack Grealish ahead of the summer and should he join Pep Guardiola's side, it could well be bad news for Raheem Sterling.

According to the Daily Mail, City are now favourites to sign the impressive 25-year-old this summer, despite Manchester United having been very keen on the Villa star last year.

The £54 million-rated Grealish has been the driving force behind Villa's impressive season in the Premier League this season, with the England international contributing six goals and 10 assists in just 22 top-flight appearances, resulting in a superb 7.73 rating.

Although he signed a new five-year contract with the Villans last summer, his incredible performances this season, which have resulted in his call-up to the England side, make it seem likely that he could depart for a top-four club during the upcoming transfer window, with the Daily Mail suggesting that he is excited by the possibility of becoming part of City's squad.

Considering the sort of fee that City would have to spend to bring him to the Etihad this summer, you would expect Grealish to be a regular in Guardiola's side next season, which could have a serious impact on Sterling's playing time under the Spanish manager.

The former Liverpool man, who reportedly earns £300k per week at City, has been out of favour for recent fixtures and has regularly found himself on the bench, before making a rare start in the 2-0 win against Everton at the weekend.

Although the 26-year-old has enjoyed another impressive season, contributing nine goals and five assists in 25 Premier League appearances, resulting in a 7.29 average rating, he has come under scrutiny for his finishing, most notably after the 2-0 defeat against Manchester United, where he missed a host of chances at the Etihad.

There is no doubting that when on form, Sterling is one of the very best in the Premier League but you can also argue that Grealish has significantly outperformed him this season despite playing in a poorer side, and therefore, he could become City's first-choice winger should he join in the summer, which could cause problems for the "extraordinary" Sterling.

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