Manchester City will fight Liverpool for the transfer of Josko Gvardiol after marking the RB Leipzig star as a priority target. But Jurgen Klopp will try and put a spanner in their efforts.
That is according to Foot Mercato, which reports Manchester City are determined to agree a deal for Gvardiol this summer. The Etihad Stadium outfit explored signing the centre-half during January, as well. But Pep Guardiola’s club would not agree on terms with RB Leipzig.
The Citizens were willing to pay Die Roten Bullen €110m (£97m), including any future add-ons. The offer also included a sell-on clause worth 20% of any future profit made by selling the 21-year-old. While Gvardiol would have stayed at RB Leipzig on loan until this summer.
Manchester City must rival Liverpool for a deal with RB Leipzig this summer
Yet while RB Leipzig snubbed Manchester City’s bid, Gvardiol remains Guardiola’s priority target. The Catalan coach will now rival Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United for the 19-cap Croatia star in the summer. Die Roten Bullen also accept he is likely to leave them.
Red Bull Arena chiefs admit it will be next to impossible to retain Gvardiol with an array of suitors circling. Guardiola is also intent on the defender’s arrival in the Premier League as a replacement for Aymeric Laporte. The Spaniard is considering leaving over his game time.
Pep Guardiola is to fight Jurgen Klopp to secure Josko Gvardiol’s transfer
As well as Manchester City having to rival Liverpool for Gvardiol’s transfer, Guardiola must rival Klopp for the RB Leipzig ace. Rudy Galetti also cites the Reds’ interest and reports the German leads their pursuit. Klopp sees the Croatian as the ideal partner for Virgil van Dijk.
Galetti also expects RB Leipzig will only demand €90m (£80m) to sell Gvardiol this summer. He is under contract in Saxony until June 2027 after signing a new deal last September. His committed efforts have also seen Danny Mills praise Gvardiol as ‘unbelievable’ this season.
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