Aston Villa's stubborn co-owner Nassef Sawiris is set to insist Manchester United cough up at least £80million for Jack Grealish.
United are favourites for Grealish's signature but Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is also a big admirer.
The Villa captain is considering his future this week despite helping his boyhood team to Premier League survival.
Grealish,24, scored his ninth of the season on the final day in the draw at West Ham to clinch safety.
He loyally stood by Villa when they went down previously and was a key man in their promotion last season.
But Grealish has ambitions to win silverware, play in the Champions League and regularly turn out for England.
Yet Villa co-owner Sawiris, the Egyptian billionaire, is known to be a stubborn businessman who is willing to dig his heels in over the price.
United paid £80m for England international centre-back Harry Maguire a year ago.
Sawiris is now believed to want at least as much to sanction the sale of Villa talisman Grealish.
Grealish is uncapped but as an attacking English player can command more.
He is the most fouled player in the Premier League and also got seven assists.
Grealish has been courted by United previously as a teenager when he dined with Rio Ferdinand at his restaurant.
Villa kept him back then on his first pro deal but this latest looming battle is a fight they may not be able to win.
Grealish is under contract until 2023 on £60,000-a-week but hasn't pursued any talks over a new deal since promotion.
Villa boss Dean Smith said: “We have billionaire owners and if people want him he’s going to cost an awful lot of money.”
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