Man City already boast one of the most expensive and star-studded squads in football, but according to recent reports, the mega-spending Premier League giants look to add a few more big-money signings to the Etihad Stadium roster.
The Cityzens search for a new striker is no secret, having recently lodged a bid for Tottenham superstar Harry Kane as a replacement for iconic forward Sergio Aguero. On top of that, rumors popped up a while ago linking the English champions with a move for Jack Grealish, the Aston Villa sensation who has been the talk of the town for a season or two.
According to the Athletic, a third talented Premier League and England national team player has been added to Guardiola's wishlist and that man is none other than Reece James, the highly-rated fullback who played a crucial role in Chelsea's UEFA Champions League success last season.
The Blues have beaten Man City in their last three encounters, with James playing particularly well on all occasions, especially the latter two – the 1-0 FA Cup semi-final victory and 1-0 UEFA Champions League final triumph. As a result, the English right-back has caught the eye of Pep, with the Spaniard said to be a fan of his versatility as he can play at the heart of a back three or in the midfield.
Chelsea have no intention of selling but this will not deter Man City from launching a pursuit. The London giants were heavily linked with a move for Inter Milan right-back Achraf Hakimi and while the Moroccan ace looks to be on the brink of joining PSG, the Blues interest has given the Cityzens the confidence to go after Reece. Furthermore, James is one of the lowest-paid players at Stamford Bridge and could thus be tempted with higher wages, but his lengthy contract with the London giants – his current deal runs until June 2025 – is admittedly a huge stumbling block.
Additionally, signing all three players – Kane, Grealish, and James – in the same summer does not look financially feasible for even a club as wealthy as Man City. A $139M offer could prove enough to bring Grealish to Manchester despite Aston Villa's resistance to sell, but the same cannot be said about the aforementioned Tottenham forward as Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is ready to play hardball.
