Manchester City have lodged a world-record transfer bid for RB Leipzig centre-back Josko Gvardiol, with Pep Guardiola prepared to make a U-turn in order to sign the highly-rated Croatian defender.
Gvardiol, 21, is the subject of a mammoth €90million (£77m) offer from City, according to Sky Germany, with personal terms already agreed. The bid - which if accepted would make him the world's most expensive defender - represents a significant change of tack for keen admirer Guardiola, who wasn't able to break that record four years ago when pursuing England international Harry Maguire.
After missing out to bitter rivals Manchester United, Guardiola claimed that cash-rich City couldn't "afford" to sign the then Leicester City star for the €87m which he ended up costing. "We were interested, but we could not afford it," the City manager stated in August 2019. "United could afford it. He's an excellent, top-class player.
