Jack Grealish will decide his Aston Villa future after representing England at Euro 2020 amid intense interest from Manchester City in a summer transfer, according to the Mirror.
Pep Guardiola is keen to take the midfielder to the Etihad Stadium to help defend the Citizens’ Premier League title. The Sky Blues are prepared to pay £100m for the maestro but have faced a firm refusal from the Villans.
Aston Villa are determined to keep hold of their captain and have informed Grealish’s agent of their position. The Birmingham outfit have also opened discussions with the 25-year-old over a new contract to increase his £130,000-per-week wage.
Grealish is under contract at Aston Villa until 2025 but will make a decision on his long-term future after Euro 2020 amid interest from Manchester City. Until then, the claret-and-blue side are working to improve Dean Smith’s attacking options to take the burden off him.
Aston Villa insist their interest in Arsenal talent Emile Smith Rowe after a deal for Norwich’s Emiliano Buendia is not related to Grealish. Smith only oversaw three wins in 12 Premier League games when without his captain last season due to injury.
Manchester City were working to finalise a £100m move for Grealish to join from Aston Villa last month, per ESPN. Guardiola has marked the England gem as a key target alongside Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane.
Grealish making Manchester City wait on deal with Aston Villa
Grealish is making Manchester City wait for a deal with Aston Villa by delaying a decision until after Euro 2020. But Guardiola would have expected nothing less than the 25-year-old giving England his full focus this summer.
Grealish has been one of the stars of the Three Lions’ show, despite playing a bit-part role under Gareth Southgate. The Manchester City target delivered an eye-catching performance against the Czech Republic by assisting Raheem Sterling in the group stage.
He came off the bench to help beat Germany, too, by setting up Luke Shaw to assist Sterling. Grealish then delivered a pinpoint cross for Kane, to cap off his creative cameo to the praise of Declan Rice. But his efforts have hardly been surprising, given Smith’s prior tributes.
“There is not a person I can look at and say yes, Jack is like him,” the Aston Villa boss said, via Goal, in February. “He is very unique in the way he plays. He handles the football well as everyone knows.”
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