Manchester City reportedly believe that they can sign Josko Gvardiol for well below RB Leipzig’s asking price, with the 21-year-old currently valued at €100m (£88m).
According to Sport Bild via Sport Witness, the Bundesliga side could soon be forced to sell the Croatian international should the defender demand to leave the club this summer and if pressure continues to mount from rival clubs over signing Gvardiol.
Leipzig’s stance has always been that they want to hold out for £88m, a record transfer fee for a defender. However, interest from the likes of City and Gvardiol’s growing desire to leave could result in the centre-back leaving east German for well below his asking price.
Hailed as ‘unbelievable’ by Danny Mills during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Gvardiol is regarded by many as one of the best defenders in world football and one of the most exciting talents in Europe, and City have seemingly made the youngster one of their main targets for the summer.
Pep Guardiola has identified a left-sided centre-back and a central midfielder as his priorities for the upcoming window, and with City now believing that they can drive down Gvardiol’s asking price, a potential transfer could now be in the works.
Indeed, City already had the funds to match any asking price Leipzig would have demanded for Gvardiol, yet with a bargain potentially on the table, the Manchester giants could be rubbing their hands if the Bundesliga side begin to crumble under the pressure.
Gvardiol asking price could be reduced at City’s will
Gvardiol could still leave for a world-record fee for a defender this summer, such is the quality and the potential the Leipzig star possesses. However, should City apply the right amount of pressure, there’s a chance that the centre-back could be available for less than £88m.
And with City keen on signing Gvardiol, there’s a strong possibility that such a tactic will be implemented this summer, with Guardiola seemingly intent on adding the centre-back to his superstar squad this summer.
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