Man Utd ‘discussed swap deals’ during late Jack Grealish transfer phone call

Guardiola details why Man City splashed cash on Grealish

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Manchester United are said to have been approached over a potential deal for Jack Grealish as recently as last week, reports claim. The Aston Villa captain completed his blockbuster £100million move to the Etihad Stadium on Thursday after several days of deliberation.

City are said to have tabled the offer a week before the move was finally official.

Grealish has been handed the No 10 shirt for his new club and said the gesture “made his year” upon signing two days ago.

During contract negotiations with his boyhood club last summer, the attacking midfielder asked for Villa’s word that he would be able to leave for Champions League football further down the line, permitting it was not on offer at Villa Park.

Villa agreed to put a £100m release clause in his contract but never expected it to be matched, let alone a year later.

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Yet The Athletic claim Aston Villa were keen to try and extract more money from the deal this summer.

The report suggests that Real Madrid were asked if they were willing to propose any player in a move while Manchester United were also called and swap deals were discussed.

But Grealish would eventually get his move to City after United cooled their interest this summer.

The 25-year-old is believed to have a soft spot for the Red Devils despite supporting Villa.

In a now-deleted tweet from 2012, he said: “Football is on! Please United win and City lose, I cannot watch City win the league lol, come on the Villa aswell!!”

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United’s interest in the player started to ramp up during the 2019/20 season.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is said to have had a quiet word in the Old Trafford tunnel with Grealish after a 2-2 draw with Aston Villa.

Grealish had scored a stunner, cutting inside and feeding the ball into the far top corner.

“You were the best player on the pitch today,” Solskjaer reportedly told the England international.

It was a goal Grealish holds in high regard, he previously said: “This was my favourite goal ever. Scoring at Old Trafford. I’ve always wanted to play at Old Trafford.

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“I’ve played there before in a reserve cup final but it’s not the same when it’s like that. That’s obviously my favourite ground in the Premier League.”

The signings of Bruno Fernandes and Jadon Sancho all but ended the club’s pursuit of Grealish.

Now he will be lining up for their noisy neighbours and Grealish could even take part in this evening’s Community Shield against Leicester.

The playmaker will be hoping to be joined by England team mate Harry Kane at the Etihad.

Pep Guardiola has now confirmed that City will continue to pursue the Tottenham striker although Daniel Levy has put a stop to negotiations.

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