RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol has admitted to conversations with Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola but does not believe a move to the Premier League champions will happen this summer.
The Croatia international has so much credit in the bank already, even at the age of 21, that he even has the luxury of emerging from a 7-0 hammering in the Champions League knockout stages with his reputation largely unscathed.
Arguably the worst performance of Gvardiol’s senior career is a rare blot on an otherwise pristine copybook. There was perhaps no greater centre-half at the Qatar World Cup than Gvardiol; the colossus at the heart of Zlatko Dalic’s bronze medal winners.
To some, it’s only a matter of time before the one-time Leeds United target is unparalleled at the highest level.
“He, I think, is an absolute top one,” former Manchester City midfielder and England international Owen Hargreaves tells BT Sport.
“I think he’ll be the best centre-back in the world one day. And he probably wouldn’t mind playing in a team like (Man City) rather than against them.”
Manchester City like RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol
Whether that is the case or not, Gvardiol is not expecting to follow Dayot Upamecano, Naby Keita and Ibrahima Konate out the door before September’s transfer deadline.
“The club is not interested in selling me this summer,” Gvardiol tells Net HR. “So there is no point in talking about anything else.
“The most important thing is to end this season in Leipzig in the best possible way.”
Both Pep Guardiola and Manchester City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain, The Athletic say, are huge admirers of the left-footed centre-half; one who, valued at around £90 million, should replace Harry Maguire as the most expensive defender in football history.
Guardiola and his near-namesake enjoyed a brief discussion after the recent Champions League clash. But Gvardiol was in no mood to make a private conversation public.
“I extended my hand to Guardiola in the Champions League. I congratulated him on going through (to the quarter-finals),” the youngster adds. “Guardiola, a great coach, threw a few words at me. But I will keep them to myself.”
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