Manchester City are stepping up their pursuit of Aston Villa midfielder Fabian Delph.
The Daily Mail says City have stepped up their interest in signing England midfielder Delph from Aston Villa for £8million.
Delph had the buyout clause inserted in the new four-and-a-half-year contract he signed at Villa Park in January, just six months before he was due to become a free agent.
It ensured that Villa would recoup the £8m they paid Leeds for Delph in 2009, but would not be enough to put off the likes of City, Liverpool and Tottenham.