Manchester City have named Josko Gvardiol as one of their top transfer targets for the upcoming summer transfer window, according to a report from journalist Ben Jacobs [via Football365].
Should City wish to bring Gvardiol to the Etihad Stadium, they will be required to pay Leipzig no less than £85 million. Should City meet this valuation, it would make him the most expensive defender of all time – the current record is held by Manchester United’s Harry Maguire.
Who else, besides Manchester City, is interested in a move for Josko Gvardiol?
Both Liverpool and Chelsea are believed to be keen on a move for Gvardiol – he will most likely be outside of Liverpool’s transfer budget, but Chelsea could provide serious competition for his signature – their profligate spending over the past couple of transfer windows has become infamous.
In an interview with 24 Sata in 2021, Gvardiol revealed he is a boyhood Liverpool supporter. He said: “Since I was a little boy, my dad and I watched Liverpool matches, and I grew up with only them. When I took football more seriously, I started following them, and I definitely want the Premier League and Liverpool.”
As such, this may play a part when Gvardiol comes to make his final decision. Nevertheless, Liverpool will need to submit a formal offer before anything can be finalised – which, as mentioned, may not come to fruition.
How will Josko Gvardiol improve Manchester City’s squad?
Manchester City’s squad, having just completed an historic treble, is currently stronger than it ever has been. Arguably, the Sky Blues could enter next season without making any signings and be perfectly fine – but if they are to improve in any area of the pitch, they would probably be best advised to bolster their defence.
Not only is he a physically-gifted, powerful centre-half, he is also very proficient with the ball at his feet. He is the archetypal modern defender – and he is just 21 years of age.
Gvardiol may not immediately break into Manchester City’s squad if he is snapped up by Pep Guardiola, but he will likely become one of the world’s leading defenders in a few years’ time.