Man City prepared to stump up £215m to sign England duo

Joe Williams
Harry Kane Jack Grealish England Man City
Harry Kane Jack Grealish England

Man City are ready to pay up to £215m to land both Aston Villa playmaker Jack Grealish and Tottenham striker Harry Kane this summer, according to reports.

The Citizens have been linked with both players as they look to add quality to Pep Guardiola’s squad in the summer transfer market.

Man City are in a position to be picky over transfers with their squad already brimming with quality in every position.


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Their strikeforce is possibly the only area where City seem weak after Sergio Aguero left to join Barcelona – but Guardiola has consistently played down the need for a new striker.

Speaking earlier this month, Guardiola said: “At the prices we are not going to buy any strikers, it is impossible, we cannot afford it. It’s impossible.

“All clubs are struggling financially, we are not an exception. We have Gabriel [Jesus], Ferran [Torres] who has been incredible in this position, we have young players in the academy, we play many times with a false nine.

“I don’t know what is going to happen. Maybe we’re going to buy but maybe we’re not going to buy a striker for next season. Today there is more chance we aren’t going to buy a striker for next season.”

There have been reports linking Kane with a move to Manchester United but speculation has been more consistent that he could move to neighbours City.

It has been reported that Premier League champions Man City are readying a £100m bid for the England captain and now The Athletic confirm that Kane and Grealish are their ‘two biggest targets this summer by far’.

Man City don’t have to choose between the pair, instead the report adds that they ‘will sign both if Spurs and Aston Villa agree to let them go’.

The Athletic adds:

‘They know, of course, that it will not be easy to land their top targets and neither will come cheaply: City estimate the total cost for Kane and Grealish to be £175 million to £215 million.

‘Obviously, that will not be their net spend for this window and if those sums are to be spent, that outlay would be significantly balanced by sales.’

There is a fear that Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy ‘simply refuses all offers, no matter how attractive they appear’ for Kane while Grealish’s ‘ties to Villa cannot be underestimated’.

‘Both consider the champions their next destination, if they are to move’ and there is ‘confidence that a deal can be wrapped up swiftly’ for Grealish.