Man City ‘doing private transfer work’ as Jack Grealish and Harry Kane deals eyed

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Manchester City are trying to identify the players that could help them seal moves for Jack Grealish and Harry Kane this summer, with the newly-crowned Premier League champions looking to sell in order to fund their pre-season business, according to reports. Pep Guardiola is said to be keen on adding to his squad ahead of the new campaign as the Spaniard aims to seal back-to-back domestic triumphs.

Attacking reinforcements are believed to be the order of the day at the Etihad Stadium following the departure of Sergio Aguero upon the expiry of his previous contract.

The veteran forward ultimately decided against extending his stay at the club in order to join Barcelona on a free transfer, leaving a huge hole at the top of the pitch back at City.

A number of first-class alternatives have been linked with the Sky Blues in recent months, with Kane and Grealish believed to be near the top of Guardiola’s summer wish list.

However, the unwanted financial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have damaged City’s financial pulling power, with director of football Txiki Begiristain set to struggle in his efforts to bring the pair to Manchester this summer.

The situation is forcing City to explore other avenues, with player sales being considered in order to enable lucrative approaches for priority signings, according to ESPN.

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The report claims that Grealish and Kane are the club’s main targets ahead of next season, with the latter’s presence able to fill the void left by Aguero’s exit.

Kane wants to leave Spurs in search of a new challenge, but chairman Daniel Levy is vehemently opposed to selling his prized asset.

A monumental bid, likely to be upwards of £150million, could reportedly tempt the controversial 59-year-old into parting ways with the England skipper.

However, City would not be able to commit to such a figure in the current climate, suggesting that a player-plus-cash offer may be tabled as Guardiola and Begiristain look to bring the move to life.

Meanwhile, Villa are believed to have slapped a £100m price tag on Grealish, who has emerged as one of the Premier League’s finest playmakers.

The 25-year-old managed seven goals and 12 assists in all competitions last season, but saw a large chunk of his playing time curtailed by injury.

He could be set to replace Raheem Sterling or Riyad Mahrez, who have both been linked with summer moves elsewhere, out wide for City as they hunt a second Premier League title in as many attempts.

It remains to be seen whether or not the Champions League runners-up will be able to land Grealish or Kane in time for the new campaign, with the financial challenges posed likely to throw a spanner in the works.

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Former City winger Trevor Sinclair recently warned Guardiola that he could be set to miss out on both players, highlighting the club’s lack of record-breaking transfer activity in recent years.

“One thing they have stuck to is that they’ve never broke records,” Sinclair told talkSPORT.

“So if you look at all the records that have been broken, they have never been anywhere near breaking records. Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea – all the other clubs are buying players for £80m-90m.

“Man City have not been anywhere near that. I don’t think that’s by accident. I think that’s by design.”

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