Fabian Delph should wrap up a move to Manchester City over the weekend, after the Etihad Stadium club triggered his £8million release clause.
The former Leeds United youngster has become an increasingly inspirational figure in the Aston Villa midfield over the past couple of seasons, something which hasn’t gone unnoticed at international level as he has collected six caps for England. He has now made over 100 appearances in the Premier League, and captained the Midlands side in the FA Cup final last term.
Delph signed a new contract at Villa only in January, as he entered the final six months of his existing deal. But this new agreement also contained a release clause of £8million, and as City look to increase the number of homegrown players in their first team squad, they have met this fee and the 25-year-old is thought to have already agreed personal terms with the Blues.
He is now set to undergo a medical at the recently dethroned champions, who will expect to tie up the deal over the course of the weekend. By this time Manuel Pellegrini will also have hoped to have made further progress in his pursuit of Raheem Sterling, despite already having a reported two bids – including one of £40million – rejected by Liverpool for the 20-year-old forward.
The former Queens Park Rangers youngster has two years left on his contract at Anfield, but he has made it perfectly clear that he wants to leave this summer. As the Reds prepare to fly out to Asia and Australia for their pre-season programme on Sunday, Sterling has told Brendan Rodgers he has no intention of travelling, as he looks to secure a transfer in the near future.
