Manchester City are preparing a £90m bid for Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish, according to Football Insider.

The Premier League champions were first seriously name-checked with an interest in the 25-year-old back in March by The Daily Mail.

Since then, it has been suggested that Grealish has informed his friends that he would be keen on an Etihad Stadium switch on more than one occasion.

Jim White of talkSPORT went as far as to say a £100m deal was close to completion at the end of June, but as we know, a move is yet to materialise.

The Latest: Source shares update

According to Football Insider, who were informed by a recruitment source, City are lining up a £90m bid for the 25-year-old.

The report leads with a title claiming that talks have been held, with City willing to make Grealish a British record signing, eclipsing Manchester United’s £89m deal for Paul Pogba back in 2016.

Months of groundwork over a move has already been completed and the end of the European Championship looks set to be the start of a busy month on the transfer front prior to the new domestic campaign.

The Verdict: A decisive few weeks ahead

Villa want Grealish to sign an improved deal at Villa Park worth £150,000 per week, and the next few weeks look set to be critical in regards to the attacking midfielder’s future.

Ashely Preece suggested that talks over a new contract were on hold until after Euro 2020, so it now seems as if Villa could be in a position where they will be tested with an offer from City while trying to tie down their playmaker to a new deal.

Grealish reportedly wants to play Champions League football regularly and develop his game under Pep Guardiola, so if he makes that patently clear to Villa chiefs over the coming weeks, they may well have to reluctantly cash in on the 25-year-old.

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