Kevin De Bruyne has reportedly encouraged Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola to maintain his pursuit of in-demand Aston Villa star Jack Grealish.
Manchester United had long been considered leading candidates to land Grealish, but Guardiola’s Manchester City are now in the driving seat.
The Spanish manager has identified the 25-year-old playmaker as his top priority as he looks to reshape a squad that faltered badly last season.
The ‘Sky Blues’ have failed to bounce back this term and are currently sitting in the lower half of the table.
What’s more, Guardiola’s men have netted a miserly average of 1.25 goals per Premier League game after eight league fixtures.
Therefore, the 49-year-old is on the lookout for a player able to reinvigorate the fallen giants and sees Grealish as the right man for the job.
The England international has enjoyed a stellar start to the season, racking up four goals and six assists in eight Premier League starts.
But, before making any move for Grealish, Guardiola has reportedly held talks with his standout performer Kevin De Bruyne.
The 29-year-old maestro has been waxing lyrical about his Aston Villa counterpart after seeing him at act first hand during the international break.
According to The Independent, De Bruyne has labeled Grealish as a player Manchester City ‘must try and sign.’
Despite his contract at Villa Park expiring in 2025, Guardiola believes the English game metronome is an affordable buy.
In addition to the homegrown Villa star, Tottenham’s Harry Kane and Barcelona’s Lionel Messi were also subjects of discussions at the Etihad.
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