Man City are ready to step up their bid to sign £86m-rated Josko Gvardiol with Pep Guardiola eyeing the RB Leipzig defender as Aymeric Laporte's replacement
- Man City are stepping up their plans to sign RB Leipzig star Josko Gvardiol
- The player has indicated he wants to leave the Bundesliga side this summer
- Pep Guardiola has identified him as a replacement for Aymeric Laporte
Manchester City will step up efforts to sign Josko Gvardiol after he indicated to RB Leipzig he was ready to leave.
Leipzig want around £86million for the 21-year-old. Previous club Dinamo Zagreb are understood to have a sell-on clause of around 20 per cent.
Man City boss Pep Guardiola wants him to replace Aymeric Laporte, who is expected to leave.
Reports from Foot Mercato had earlier claimed the club are ready to break the bank in order to bring the 21-year-old to Manchester.
It was claimed City's director of football Txiki Begiristain has already met with the player's representatives regarding a potential transfer and Gvardiol has reportedly already agreed personal terms to join the Champions League winners.
![Man City are stepping up their bid to sign defender Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/25/17/72514007-12231989-image-a-22_1687710946160.jpg)
Man City are stepping up their bid to sign defender Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig
![Pep Guardiola has named signing the Croatian defender his number one priority this summer](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/25/17/72514005-12231989-image-a-23_1687710957617.jpg)
Pep Guardiola has named signing the Croatian defender his number one priority this summer
The Spanish boss is looking to secure his major deals early after wasting no time in beginning preparations for the upcoming campaign.
Chelsea star Mateo Kovacic has completed a medical ahead of a £25m move to the club, with the move expected to be officially announced in the coming days.
The club have also entered the race to sign West Ham captain Declan Rice.
Though Arsenal remain frontrunners to sign the England international, reports claim that City could usurp the Gunners' interest by offering a combined cash-and-player deal.
Kalvin Phillips found himself struggling to break into the starting XI during his maiden season at the club, and City are said to be considering offering the former Leeds star to the Hammers in a bid to capture Rice this summer.
![City chief Txiki Begiristain reportedly met with Gvardiol's entourage ahead of a possible move](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/25/18/72513977-12231989-City_director_of_football_Txiki_Begiristain_has_met_with_Gvardio-a-1_1687712629198.jpg)
City chief Txiki Begiristain reportedly met with Gvardiol's entourage ahead of a possible move
Most watched Sport videos
- IShowSpeed is challenged to a race by Polish Olympic sprinting star
- OnlyFans Olympian Alisha Newman shows off pole vault outfit choices
- Fans react to Ellie Aldridge winning gold in kitesurfing at Olympic
- Olympics commentator corrected after misgendering USA shot put star
- Letslie Tebogo delivers savage remark after winning gold
- Noah Lyles' Olympic rival speaks out after the 200m final
- Fitness experts distinguishes between NRL and Olympic athletes
- Awkward moment Anthony Ammirati gets his crotch stuck on crossbar
- Rebeca Andrade reacts to Simone Biles' bow to her after winning gold
- Paris 2024 Olympics: Day 11 highlights
- Olympian boxer makes 'controversial' gesture
- Adorable footage of a tiny Simone Biles at junior competition