Report: Manchester City on verge of completing £8-million signing of Aston Villa's Fabian Delph

Manchester City needs midfield depth. The Citizens also require homegrown players to meet the Premier League-enforced quota. Check and check.

Various reports in England suggest that City has activated the £8-million release clause in the contract of Aston Villa midfielder Fabian Delph, suggesting that a deal for the 25-year-old is imminent.

The Guardian has more details:

City require homegrown players and Delph’s profile as an established England international and Villa captain has convinced Manuel Pellegrini, the manager, that he has the requisite quality for the club.

However, Delph, who is not with Villa on their pre-season tour of Portugal, understands it will be difficult to establish himself given the chequered history of other English players who have been signed by City recently. Scott Sinclair and Jack Rodwell each failed to make an impact after joining from Swansea City and Everton, respectively.

Delph, long rumoured to be leaving Villa, signed a four-year contract extension with the club in January, at which time he said the decision would showcase his loyalty to the club.

"I am a loyal person and committing my future will hopefully show everybody what type of guy I am. Hopefully it will give everyone a bit of a lift and show the fans that we are looking to do big things here and bring excitement back to the club. We want to get through this season, do well and I feel the up-and-coming years will be big. There was no way I was going to bail out. I am here for the long run."

If by long run he meant roughly six months, then sure.