Manchester City are on the verge of completing their second summer signing, smashing a record and surpassing rivals Liverpool in the process. Manchester City are on their way of breaking a transfer record by sealing a major new acquisition ahead of Liverpool. The Citizens won a record-breaking treble last season. However Pep Guardiola has stressed the importance of keeping the players fresh and motivated, with business underway this summer. Mateo Kovacic has arrived at the club from Chelsea, taking over for the departing Ilkay Gundogan. More deals are also in the works, with defensive reinforcement being sought as Guardiola attempts to rebuild his squad.
Manchester City might land Gvardiol making him most costliest defender
According to the Telegraph, Manchester City’s upcoming move for Josko Gvardiol would cost the European champions £86 million – a world record fees for a defender. The fee for the Croatian international is more than Manchester United’s £80 million fee for Harry Maguire. Liverpool has also shown interest for RB Leipzig defender Gvardiol, as Jurgen Klopp seeks a left-sided center-back. Guardiola, on the other hand, will almost certainly play his near-namesake at left-back. He might Left-sided centre-back Nathan Ake has spent the duration of the season. City have no apparent successor for Ake in the squad. Aymeric Laporte expected to leave Eastlands due to a lack of playing time during the Treble-winning season.
According to L’Équipe, Leipzig is eyeing Lyon prodigy Castello Lukeba to replace the City target. Transfermarkt estimates Gvardiol at €75 million. Moreover Josko Gvardiol wishes to join Manchester City, according to RB Leipzig sports director Max Eberl. He says:
“Yes, for €100m plus bonuses, Gvardiol will end up in Pep’s strong hands. The value of the deal would make Gvardiol the most expensive defender in history. But it might take a few more days.”
Gvardiol’s agents have informed his club that their client desires a move from the Bundesliga to the Premier League champions this summer. His sum would be higher than the £80 million paid by Manchester United for Harry Maguire in 2019, which is now the highest fee for a defender, ahead of Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool and Matthijs de Ligt to Juventus.
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