RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol has reportedly emerged as a top defensive target for Manchester City.
The Croatian international, 21, has revealed he is keen to move to the Etihad Stadium this summer. RB Leipzig will let their defensive lynchpin leave but only if they receive a fee close to £85m. This would mean that the Bundesliga club want a world record fee for a defender, surpassing what Manchester United paid for Harry Maguire in the summer of 2019.
According to The Sun, Manchester City have indicated they are ready to table an opening £68million bid for Josko Gvardiol but RB Leipzig have warned that will not be enough to prise the defender away from the Red Bull Arena.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been a long-term admirer of Gvardiol, who is one of Europe’s most coveted defenders. In the last two seasons, he has made 87 appearances for Leipzig and his performances have caught the attention of many top clubs. The 21-year-old further enhanced his glowing reputation with strong displays for Croatia at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The report adds that talks between City and Gvardiol’s representatives have gone well and agreeing on personal terms will not be a problem.
Fresh from winning the historic Treble, Manchester City are wasting no time in shaping their squad for the 2023-24 campaign. With a deal already completed for Croatian international Mateo Kovacic, the Sky Blues are hoping to beat Arsenal to the signing of West Ham skipper Declan Rice.
In addition to midfield reinforcements, Pep Guardiola wants to sign a centre-back this summer. The Treble-winners are looking to make space for a new defender in their squad next season with the sale of Spanish international Aymeric Laporte, who is on the radar of a number of Premier League clubs—including Spurs and Aston Villa.
The City boss has made Josko Gvardiol his No.1 defensive priority this transfer window. Guardiola’s side are stacked at the back, and signing Gvardiol can help make that defensive unit even more robust. The Croat is already rated among the world’s best defenders thanks to his mixture of physical dominance, technical ability and massive potential.
At just 21, he is near-perfect for a defender and has the required qualities to slot into Guardiola’s new 3-2-4-1 system and improve the Treble-winners—a frightening prospect for the rest of the Premier League. The RB Leipzig star would be an upgrade on Laporte in terms of longevity and potential whilst being a terrific option to compete with the likes of Kyle Walker, Nathan Ake, Ruben Dias and Manuel Akanji.
City’s ambition to sign Josko Gvardiol—one of Europe’s best defenders—just weeks after completing the Treble shows their sky-high ambition. Leipzig asking a record fee for Gvardiol is justified and the Cityzens must do everything to their powers to land the 21-year-old this summer.
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