City close in on Villa midfielder Fabian Delph?

Manchester City are set to complete a £8 million move for Aston Villa midfielder Fabian Delph, according to Goal.

The England international was heavily linked with a move away from Villa Park this summer, despite signing a new four-and-a-half-year contract in January.

The report claims that City boss Manuel Pellegrini is reportedly keen to strengthen his squad with world class players in order to compete for Premier League title new season and Delph is now become Pellegrini’s summer target, using a release clause in the 25-year-old’s contract to secure him on the cheap.

Manchester City are set to make Fabian Delph their first major signing of the summer http://t.co/cp3MGjkwhd pic.twitter.com/CaMcOSTrW5

— Goal UK (@GoalUK) July 3, 2015

Currently, the Citizens transfer business looks depleted with the departure of James Milner, Micah Richards and Scott Sinclair from the Etihad Stadium this summer.

If the deal goes through, Delph will become Pellegrini’s first recruit of the summer. He has made 18 Premier League starts for the Villans last season.

Meanwhile – Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling and Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere are also thought to be on City’s radar.