Manchester City reportedly near signing Croatia heart again Josko Gvardiol

MANCHESTER, England — Manchester City is able to make a giant transfer within the switch market, days earlier than the beginning of the brand new season.

The English and European champions are set to signal Croatia heart again Josko Gvardiol for a reported 90 million euros ($98.3 million) from German membership Leipzig, making him one of many world’s costliest defenders.

Neither City nor Leipzig have commented publicly concerning the deal for Gvardiol, who will reportedly endure a medical examination this week.

Manchester United’s Harry Maguire value 80 million kilos (then $97 million) when he joined from Leicester in 2019, whereas Virgil van Dijk moved from Southampton to Liverpool for 75 million kilos (then $100 million) in 2018.

The 21-year-old Gvardiol, referred to as “Little Pep” due to his title’s likeness to City supervisor Pep Guardiola, is without doubt one of the most extremely rated defenders on the planet and enhanced his status with spectacular performances for Croatia on the World Cup final 12 months.

He has performed for Leipzig for 2 seasons, having beforehand been at Dinamo Zagreb. He was instantly a key participant within the Bundesliga on the age of simply 19, profitable the German Cup in every of his seasons with Leipzig.

Gvardiol is a left-footed heart again and would possible play on the left of City’s again three, if Guardiola persists with a 3-2-4-1 formation he deployed within the second half of final season.

City additionally has Nathan Ake for that position in a formation that basically sees the crew play a protection filled with heart backs and dispense with full backs.

Gvardiol could be City’s second signing of the offseason, after Croatia teammate Mateo Kovacic, who changed Ilkay Gundogan within the squad. Gundogan, City’s captain final season in its treble-winning marketing campaign, has joined Barcelona.