re: Manchester City 2021/2022 Season Thread: CHAMPIONS OF ENGLAND!!!

City tier 1 Martin Blackburn—

Jack Grealish will be given the chance to play some part against Leicester in the Community Shield. Grealish’s wish to play in the Champions League and work under Guardiola is understood to have been key to him joining City. He has also struck up a friendship with Kevin De Bruyne.

City submitted their bid on Friday and talks then followed over structuring the payments.

It gave Villa the chance for a last-ditch effort to keep their talisman, who has been training with the squad at a Surrey camp. He held lengthy talks with sporting director Johan Lange on Monday — but his mind was already made up.

Grealish spent the last four days training with Villa and Guardiola will now assess his fitness. However, City are short of players with so many arriving back late due to  international duty — and some were thrown straight into friendlies within 48 hours of returning.

Grealish has been one of the Prem champions’ main targets this summer — with the other being his England team-mate Harry Kane.

City are willing to go to the end of the transfer window if that is what it takes to land the hitman  — who is rated at £160m by his club. Guardiola drew up a list of alternatives but none are now being pursued. City have previously indicated they were willing to pay around £100m. Grealish’s arrival means Guardiola has options in midfield which will be envied around the world. Bernardo Silva is the most likely to leave — making it clear he is keen to play in Spain