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.
"He's strong in the air, good with the ball, the build-up, he drives with the ball, he's fast, so fast. He has all the qualities. Congratulations to United for this signature."
Maguire even backed up Guardiola's comments during his second season on the red half of Manchester. "They were both interested," United's current club captain told The Overlap. "I spoke to Manchester City and I spoke to Manchester United but I must say, I've grown up watching Manchester United teams, no disrespect to Manchester City but I've grown up watching a lot more of Manchester United football.
Maguire added: "I spoke to Pep about the football that they play and what he's done for the club. I've got great respect for Pep and the game and the evolution of what he's bought to football but as I said, it was Manchester United my heart was set on from the amount of interest that they've shown in me."
Fast forward to 2023 and the former Leicester defender is stuck on the bench at Old Trafford, while City have just completed the Treble. Guardiola now has his sights set on Gvardiol, who's just completed his sophomore term with Leipzig and starred at the World Cup for Croatia.
Although City have tabled an almighty offer, the German side may still reject it, despite already searching for replacement centre-backs. When Gvardiol signed a new deal last September, Leipzig installed a €110m release clause into his contract in the hope of fending off interested clubs, but it only becomes active in 2024.
Have your say! Is Josko Gvardiol worth a world-record fee? Join the debate in the comments section.
Currently, the Bundesliga outfit are believed to be demanding at least €100m to let him go this time around. Notably left-footed, Gvardiol had been in talks to join Chelsea last summer but a move to West London ultimately didn't come to fruition.
In March - around the time when he and his Leipzig team-mates faced City in the Champions League knockout stages, humiliatingly losing 8-1 on aggregate - the 21-year-old insisted that he'd decide his future at the end of the campaign. "It's important for me to be as successful as possible this season," Gvardiol told UEFA. "And then when the season is over, I can think about what and how to proceed."
