Pep Guardiola has targeted RB Leipzig centre-back Josko Gvardiol to kickstart Manchester City’s business in the summer transfer window, with a world-record bid already on the table
Manchester Cityhave lodged a world-record transfer bid forRB Leipzigcentre-back Josko Gvardiol, withPep Guardiolaprepared to make a U-turn in order to signthe highly-rated Croatian defєɴԀer.
Gvardiol, 21, is the subject of a mammoth €90million (£77m) offer from City, according toSky Germany,with personal terms already agreed. The bid – which if accepted would make him the world’s most expensive defєɴԀer – represents a significant change of tack for keen admirer Guardiola, who wasn’t able to break that record four years ago when pursuingEnglandinternationalHarry Maguire.
After missing out to bitter rivalsManchester United,Guardiola claimed that cash-rich City couldn’t “afford” to sign the thenLeicesterCity star for the €87m which he єɴԀed up costing. “We were interested, but we could not afford it,” the City managerstated in August 2019.”United could afford it. He’s an excellent, top-class player.
“He’s strong in the air, good with the ball, the build-up, he drives with the ball, he’s fast, so fast. He has all the qualities. Congratulations to United for this signature.”
Maguire even backed up Guardiola’s comments during his second season on the red half of Manchester. “They were both interested,” United’s current club captain toldThe Overlap.”I spoke to Manchester City and I spoke toManchester Unitedbut I must say, I’ve grown up watching Manchester United teams, no Ԁιȿɾєȿρєƈτ to Manchester City but I’ve grown up watching a lot more of Manchester United football.
Maguire added: “I spoke to Pep about the football that they play and what he’s done for the club. I’ve got great respect for Pep and the game and the evolution of what he’s bought to football but as I said, it was Manchester United my heart was set on from the amount of interest that they’ve shown in me.”
Fast forward to 2023 and the former Leicester defєɴԀer is stuck on the bench at Old Trafford, while City have just completed the Treble. Guardiola now has his sights set on Gvardiol, who’s just completed his sophomore term with Leipzig and starred at theWorld CupforCroatia.
Although City have tabled an almighty offer, the German side may still rєjєƈτ it, despite already searching for replacement centre-backs. When Gvardiol signed a new Ԁєɑł last September, Leipzig installed a €110m release clause into his contract in the hope of fєɴԀing off interested clubs, but it only becomes active in 2024.
Currently, theBundesligaoutfit are believed to be demanding at least €100m to let him go this time around. Notably left-footed, Gvardiol had been in talks to joinChelsealast summer but a move to West London ultimately didn’t come to fruition.
In March – around the time when he and his Leipzig team-mates faced City in theChampions Leagueknockout stages, humiliatingly losing 8-1 on aggregate – the 21-year-old insisted that he’d decide his future at the єɴԀ of the campaign. “It’s important for me to be as successful as possible this season,” Gvardiol toldUEFA.”And then when the season is over, I can think about what and how to proceed.”
