According to rumors from SportBild, the famed Premier League team Manchester City reportedly made a record-breaking offer for the renowned World Cup standout Josko Gvardiol. The Manchester team has been in negotiations with Leipzig, Gvardiol’s current club, for weeks to make a transfer.
While City has resolved their differences on a personal level with the Croatian center-back, Leipzig has resisted. The transaction has not yet been confirmed, contrary to earlier rumors, and Leipzig and City have not yet agreed on a transfer fee.
Breaking Records for the Defensive Marvel
Gvardiol has always been valued highly by Leipzig. The German team’s asking price of €100 million would break the existing defender record of €87 million set by Manchester United’s 2019 purchase of Harry Maguire from Leicester City.
SportBild speculates that City may have accepted Leipzig’s valuation by submitting a €90 million offer along with €10 million in add-ons. Leipzig hasn’t yet approved anything, though. What is the conflict? Leipzig wants the add-on package to feature more attainable bonuses.
The defensive prodigy at the center of Guardiola’s strategies is Gvardiol.
It is easy to understand why Pep Guardiola, the powerful manager of City, is so motivated to sign Gvardiol. Gvardiol has established a reputation as one of the most exciting young central defenders in Europe over the past 12 months. His exploits for Croatia at the World Cup and for Leipzig domestically have garnered him a wide range of admirers, Guardiola being among them.
Guardiola’s top summer transfer target has evolved into Gvardiol. City is not the only one pursuing this goal, though. Real Madrid, Chelsea, and even Manchester United, a local rival of City, have all been connected with the Croatian talent recently. However, since City was the only team to make a competitive bid, they appear to be the ones to seal the deal.
Gvardiol: A Rising Star
The 2022–23 campaign marked Gvardiol’s real development. His outstanding World Cup performance aided Croatia’s ascent to third place. He excelled in Leipzig’s squad while back in Germany, even scoring a goal against Man City in the opening leg of the Champions League quarterfinals. Even though the game finished in a stalemate, City secured victory in the return match and went on to win the coveted championship.
The center-back who could influence City’s future defensive line-up, Gvardiol, is getting closer to joining them as the entire football world watches with bated breath.