Man City plan to hand Jack Grealish debut in Community Shield clash with Leicester as they push for transfer
MANCHESTER CITY want to unleash £100million Jack Grealish in Saturday’s Community Shield .
The Aston Villa skipper, 25, flew north on Wednesday night to seal his British-record move and will have a medical this morning, before signing a deal worth over £200,000 per week.
Villa immediately spent half the fee on Danny Ings and Leon Bailey.
City boss Pep Guardiola will give Grealish the chance to play some part against Leicester at Wembley.
Grealish’s last match was England’s Euro 2020 final defeat at the stadium by Italy on July 11.
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’s wish to play in the Champions League and work under Guardiola is understood to have been key to him leaving his boyhood club.
He has also struck up a friendship with City star Kevin De Bruyne.
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 happy to bide their time, as the feud between the striker and Tottenham is growing increasingly bitter.
England captain Kane spent another day in Florida yesterday on his way back from a family holiday in the Bahamas — despite being due to report for pre-season training on Monday.
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.
But Villa proved that life goes on after Grealish.
Boss Dean Smith landed Ings, 29, on a three-year deal from Southampton for £25m.
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Smith said: “Danny has scored goals wherever he has played.”
It came hours after Villa confirmed Jamaica winger Bailey, 23, had arrived for an identical fee from Bayer Leverkusen.
Bailey said: “I like to entertain the fans, do my tricks and use my speed.”
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