Today’s Premier League transfer news includes Man City and Aston Villa nearing an agreement to transfer Jack Grealish, Chelsea working toward bringing back Romelu Lukaku, and Arsenal seeking a Martin Odegaard replacement…
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Man City inching toward $140-million Grealish transfer
Manchester City might not get both of Grealish and Harry Kane this summer, but the reigning Premier League champions appear set to land the former sooner rather than later. According to a report from Fabrizio Romano, there has been significant progress made on a $140-million deal for the 25-year-old playmaker.
Aston Villa have been one of only a few aggressive clubs thus far in the summer transfer window, further fueling speculation that Grealish would eventually leave the cub this summer. According to the report, the deal now hinges upon tidying up a few final details, after which Grealish should be a Manchester City player.
[ MORE: Harry Kane fails to turn up for Tottenham training, will be fined ]
Chelsea to sign Lukaku again
UPDATE: Our partners at Sky Sports are reporting that Lukaku has asked Inter Milan to accept a suitable bid from Chelsea.
Chelsea have spent the last few days testing the waters surrounding Romelu Lukaku in an effort to bring the big Belgian striker back to Stamford Bridge seven years after he departed rather unceremoniously. Now 28 years old and a well-established world-class striker, Lukaku looks like costing Chelsea $120 million (or more) after selling him to Everton for just $38 million in 2014.
The reigning European champions would prefer to pay closer to 110 or $120 million for Lukaku, but Inter Milan are said to be holding out for $140 million. Chelsea are likely negotiating from a position of power, as the reigning Italian champions reportedly need to sell one more high-profile player this summer to balance the club’s shaky finances and there are few (if any) other clubs able to pay anything close to nine-figures for a single player.
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Arsenal want Maddison, but Leicester want $84 million
With Odegaard unlikely to return following the expiration of his six-month loan, Arsenal have shifted their focus to a creative, attacking central midfielder to bolster the Premier League’s 9th-best attack (55 goals) a season ago. Maddison is perhaps the Gunner’s top target, but one key issue exists: Leicester City value him at over $80 million.
Having already spent $70 for center back Ben White and made a $20-million investment in 21-year-old midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga, Arsenal are unlikely to have anywhere close to that much left to spent without first making a sale (or two).
