Manchester City are set to make Josko Gvardiol the most expensive defender in the world after rejecting a €100 million (£86 million) approach from RB Leipzig.
City have been connected with Gvardiol all summer and had a deal for £77 million ($99 million) rejected earlier this summer. Leipzig had been holding out for £86 million, and that sum has finally been fulfilled, although in an offer worth £77 million plus £9 million ($10 million) in add-ons, according to Sport Bild.
THE BIGGER PICTURE: While there is said to be an expectation that Gvardiol will move to City this summer, Leipzig have yet to accept the offer, as they want more realistic goals to be included in the £9m add-ons. Were he to make the move, he would become the most expensive defender in the world, outstripping Harry Maguire, who moved to Manchester United from Leicester City for a total of £80m in 2019 ($97m).
AND WHAT’S MORE: Leipzig are not under any pressure to sell Gvardiol, having already seen Dominik Szoboszlai leave to join Liverpool, and he has a release clause in his contract worth €112m (£96m/$124m) that activates next summer, meaning the club could attempt to keep him until then. Still, they are hopeful of clarifying his future before the transfer deadline in case they need to buy a replacement.
IN THREE PHOTOS:
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WHAT NEXT? City will hope to formalise a deal for Gvardiol before they kick off their latest Premier League campaign away at Burnley on August 11.
