Sources: Major update on Man City pursuit of Grealish after £150m development
Man City are planning to submit bids for Aston Villa skipper Jack Grealish and a world-class striker if they win the Champions League final against Chelsea, Football Insider understands.
City have laid the foundations for a summer move for Grealish behind the scenes and are ready to pay a massive fee to prise him from Villa Park.
Sheikh Mansour-owned City have the funds and ambition to afford Grealish as well as a mega-money deal for top striker target Erling Haaland.
But Football Insider has been told by a City source that the club are aware of financial fair play regulations and that is a key factor in their summer planning.
Victory in next month’s all-English final in Istanbul against Chelsea would provide a big financial boost to the Premier League champions-elect.
Football Insider’s financial expert Kieran Maguire revealed that Liverpool’s Champions League run two years ago that ended in triumph earned them £150m.
As revealed by Football Insider last month, Grealish has told friends he would be interested in moving to City in the upcoming window.
Manager Pep Guardiola would be willing to offload Raheem Sterling to bring in Grealish, who he believes could be an even better fit in his side.
It is a delicate situation for the playmaker, who is a boyhood Villa fan and has spent his entire career at the club where he is idolised by supporters.
The England international, 25, signed a new five-year contract last September that runs until the summer of 2025.
But it is believed to contain a buyout clause that would trigger his departure for a set fee.
In other news, this is the real reason wonderkid Chukwuemeka wants to quit Aston Villa.