In addition to financing the high fees, City would also need to find a place on their payroll – which had already risen 11 percent to £ 351 million for the 2019/20 season – to accommodate big earners like Kane and Grealish.
Midfielder Bernardo and defenders Aymeric Laporte and Benjamin Mendy are among a number of high-profile City players who have been linked with potential relievers. But those clubs that could afford high fees and wages for such players are likely to be few this summer as the coronavirus pandemic has affected income streams across football.
England striker Raheem Sterling, who has entered the last two years of his contract, is said to be on a new deal and Riyad Mahrez, who also has a two-year contract, intends to stay.
“What if I want to go higher? I don’t see what’s higher [than City]“Said the Algerian winger (30) this week. “I really love England and English football is wonderful. I do not want to go. I still have goals here that I want to pursue. “
Meanwhile, CFG has raised $ 650 million (£ 470 million) in one of football’s largest debt deals in preparation for further investments in its international club stable.
The seven-year loan agreement was taken over by Barclays and is larger than the € 525 million debt restructuring agreement that Barcelona made with Goldman Sachs in June.
HSBC and KKR Capital Markets will help arrange and distribute the debt, with CFG intending to use the money to fund infrastructure projects across the group. This will include a planned new stadium for New York City FC, its MLS franchise.
