He is set to complete an £8 million transfer
Aston Villa captain Fabian Delph is to sign for Manchester City within the next 24 hours.
It is now being reported that the England midfielder will undergo a medical this weekend, before completing an £8 million move to the 2013/14 Premier League champions.
City are understood to have triggered the release clause in Delph’s Villa Park contract, and he will now become the Sky Blues’ first signing of this summer.
Personal terms have also been agreed between Delph and City
Manager Manuel Pellegrini needs English players to add to his squad, after James Milner‘s departure to Liverpool earlier in the summer.
Premier League clubs are required to have a minimum of 8 ‘home grown’ players in their final 25 man league squads, with City significantly short of that.
This is thanks also to Frank Lampard, Micah Richards, Scott Sinclair and Dedryck Boyata leaving the club.
Delph will leave Villa after six years at the club
Delph, formerly of Leeds United, reported back for the first day of training at Aston Villa, but did not travel to their pre-season training camp in Portugal.
This is despite the 25 year old committing his long term future to the club in January, by signing a new four and a half year contract.
He helped Villa retain their Premier League status last season, and was an instrumental part of Tim Sherwood‘s team that reached the 2015 FA Cup final, where they eventually went down 4-0 to Arsenal.
Micah Richards revealed Delph was considering a move away
Richards, formerly of City and now an Aston Villa player, said that Delph had asked him for his thoughts on the Manchester club, increasing the doubt over Delph’s focus.
Meanwhile Villa have already begun their search to replace the gaping hole left by Delph, after agreeing a £9 million deal for Lille central midfielder Idrissa Gueye, pending a work permit.
By Joseph Richardson
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