Man Utd joined by City in Jack Grealish transfer race with Pep considering Aston Villa star as Sane replacement

MANCHESTER CITY are plotting a swoop for Jack Grealish if Bayern Munich cough up the £50million asking price for Leroy Sane. Neighbours Manchester United have been long-term admirers of the Aston Villa attacker and are expected to launch a move once the transfer window re-opens. But City boss Pep Guardiola has already described the 24-year-old […]

MANCHESTER CITY are plotting a swoop for Jack Grealish if Bayern Munich cough up the £50million asking price for Leroy Sane.

Neighbours Manchester United have been long-term admirers of the Aston Villa attacker and are expected to launch a move once the transfer window re-opens.

But City boss Pep Guardiola has already described the 24-year-old as “one of the best players in the league” and admitted he was a “big fan” of the playmaker.

The ex-Barcelona coach says he is not looking for a like-for-like Sane replacement – but The Telegraph claim Grealish is a player he views as someone who could “operate in central midfield and an attacker”.

And with the addition of him boosting their homegrown quota, City may move if they sell Sane to Bayern.

The German international, 24, has refused a new contract offer at The Etihad and will become a free agent in 12 months time.

He has made it clear he wants to depart for Bayern but the Bundesliga giants are only willing to pay £35m at the moment.

City would rather keep him for another season and lose him for nothing rather than accept a fee they feel is derisory.

But they are expected to finally reach an agreement with City and that is when Grealish will come into Guardiola’s reckoning.

Grealish is currently trying to keep boyhood club Villa in the Premier League and has scored nine goals so far this term.

He is believed to want to test himself at a higher level as he looks to break into the England squad ahead of next summer’s European Championship.