Man City has recently submitted a new offer worth €90 million to RB Leipzig for the talented midfielder Josko Gvardiol, potentially making him the most expensive midfielder in the club's history.
The reported amount does not include any additional fees, but Leipzig is hoping to secure €100 million for the Croatian star's departure. Gvardiol reached a personal agreement with Man City on June 24, but the transfer fee negotiation between the two clubs remains a hurdle.
It is worth noting that Gvardiol's release clause will rise to €110 million next summer. This is why Man City is keen to secure the services of the 21-year-old midfielder in the current transfer window. Gvardiol joined Leipzig from Dinamo Zagreb in July 2021 for a fee of €18.8 million.
Gvardiol has been an outstanding performer in the Bundesliga during the 2022/23 season, making 30 appearances in the domestic league. Besides his defensive prowess, Gvardiol also possesses excellent ball-playing abilities, making him a suitable candidate for orchestrating play from the back for Man City.
During the 2022 World Cup, Gvardiol recorded the best statistics among all defenders in the tournament, according to Opta. The 21-year-old made the most tackles (37), contributed significantly to ball distribution (202), and won the ball back (48) more times than any other defender in the competition.
Manager Pep Guardiola has been highly impressed with Gvardiol's performances. The former Barcelona boss sees the Leipzig player as an ideal replacement for Aymeric Laporte, who could potentially leave the team this summer. Laporte currently ranks fifth in the pecking order for the central defender position, behind Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, John Stones, and Manuel Akanji.
Prior to pursuing Gvardiol, Man City completed the signing of Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea for a fee of £25 million. The club is also reportedly interested in West Ham's Declan Rice as they continue their search for midfield reinforcements.
