Aston Villa to break the bank to keep Man City target Grealish

 

Aston Villa are willing to offer Jack Grealish £200,000-a-week in order to fend off interest from Manchester City this summer, claims The Sun.

 

Grealish has widely expected to join Manchester United last summer but has now emerged as a top transfer target for City this time around.

 

Pep Guardiola expects to sign the England international in a deal that could end up costing up to £100m but Villa haven't given up hope of keeping their captain.

 

Grealish, who has carried Villa on his back at times in recent years, is understood to have mixed feelings on a potential departure.

 

While the 25-year-old would relish the chance to work with Guardiola and play alongside Kevin De Bruyne, leaving his boyhood club would be a tough pill to swallow.

 

 

Villa have already strengthened their front line with Emiliano Buendia's arrival and continue to be linked with players that can play in Grealish's position.

 

However, Dean Smith's side hope these signings will convince Grealish to stay rather than replace him.

 

Grealish still has four years left to run on his current Villa contract but the club are looking to reward their talisman with improved terms to make him the best paid player in their history.

 

The Villa No.10 missed a large chunk of last season through injury but finished the campaign as the third highest WhoScored rated player in the Premier League, behind Harry Kane (7.79) and De Bruyhne (7.56).