Man City handed Grealish transfer boost as Barcelona offer Griezmann

Manchester City began the summer transfer window with lofty ambitions after losing the Champions League final to Chelsea.

City chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak went on record to say the club would target “quality” new additions, adding “it is not the time to sit back and be content”.

That proclamation sounded like a warning to City’s rivals: the Premier League champions were going to break the bank to sign the very best players this summer.

Fast-forward 52 days since Khaldoon’s promise and City have landed just one player, 35-year-old back-up goalkeeper Scott Carson.

That is not for lack of trying, as the latest transfer rumours indicate.

Mirror Football brings you Friday'sMan Citytransfer gossip.

Villa chasing Grealish replacement

Man City have two priority transfer targets: Harry Kane and Jack Grealish. Both are difficult cases, but Pep Guardiola’s side have been given some encouragement when it comes to the latter.

Aston Villa have already shelled out a fee which could rise to £38million for Norwich’s Emi Buendia and are reportedly chasing another creative player.

Having been rebuffed by Arsenal for Emile Smith Rowe, who yesterday signed a new contract with the Gunners, Villa have turned their attention to Bayer Leverkusen’s Leon Bailey, according to the Daily Mail .

Bailey contributed nine goals and nine assists in the Bundesliga last season and generally plays off the left-hand side – the same position as Grealish.

According to the Manchester Evening News , City are willing to spend £100m on Grealish. Could Villa be preparing themselves for that eventuality?

City offered Griezmann

City need a striker after losing Sergio Aguero on a free transfer to Barcelona and they have frequently been linked with the likes of Kane, Erling Haaland and Romelu Lukaku, but could another player fit the bill?

Barcelona are desperately trying to offload their unwanted high-earners so they can register former City old boys Aguero and Eric Garcia, among others, and have offered Antoine Griezmann to Man City.

Griezmann’s name has been in the headlines a lot recently, with Atletico Madrid and Juventus touted as possible destinations in swaps for Saul Niguez and Paulo Dybala.

Now L’Equipe says Man City and Tottenham have been sounded out, but the 30-year-old French forward only has eyes for former club Atletico.

A member of his entourage told L’Equipe: “Antoine is not ready to accept any conditions to leave, simply because Barcelona find themselves in a complicated situation [financially].”

Would Antoine Griezmann be a good signing for Man City this summer? Have your say in the comments section below.

Mendes negotiations continue

There has been a lot of speculation surrounding Sporting Lisbon wonderkid Nuno Mendes recently and, depending on who you believe, the 19-year-old could still be coming to Manchester this summer.

Portuguese newspaper Record says City are ready to return with a bid between £25m and £30m (€30m-€35m) for the left-back after seeing their £21m (€25m) bid turned down.

Sporting are reportedly holding out for £43m (€50m) and don’t need to sell because Mendes has a release clause in his contract of £60m (€70m).

The outlet warns City could still be gazumped by the likes of Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid, but they won’t mind according to BBC reporter Simon Stone.

“There is no @ManCity interest in Nuno Mendes – and never has been,” he tweeted yesterday.

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