RB Leipzig star Josko Gvardiol is Pep Guardiola’s number one target - and the Man City boss is becoming frustrated by his club’s refusal to pay what it takes to land the Croat
Josko Gvardiol is Pep Guardiola’s number one target
Manchester City have been told that they will have to pay RB Leipzig’s full £87 million valuation to sign Josko Gvardiol - because the German club will have to shell out a premium fee to bring in a replacement.
Gvardiol is Pep Guardiola’s No 1 target - and the City boss is becoming frustrated by his club’s refusal to pay what it takes to land the Croat. Leipzig have warned the Premier League champions that they will not cash in for anything less than they originally demanded when City registered their interest three months ago, despite identifying Feyenoord’s Dutch international centre-back Lutsharel Geertruida as his successor.
The Eredivisie champions value Geertruida at £40 million - and have told Leipzig that their opening offer of just £15 million was an insult. Leipzig will only allow Gvardiol to leave if they can bank a profit on both deals in excess of £50 million.
Spending £40 million on Geertruida would only be regarded as solid business if City hand over almost £90 million for 21-year-old Croatian colossus Gvardiol. Gvardiol is desperate to move to the Etihad to work with Guardiola.
But despite suggestions that he has already undergone a medical to sign for City, he has linked up with the rest of manager Max Eberl’s squad for a nine-day pre-season training camp in the Austrian Tirol.
Eberl said: “Gvardiol is here in Tirol with us. He hasn’t done a medical check and I don’t think he did it behind our backs because he is a total professional. Gvardiol is really up for it and also likes what we have built. ManCity have said that they would like to have him and Josko has said he can imagine the move very, very well.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is getting frustrated (
Image:
AFP via Getty Images)
“But Pep’s club have failed to come anywhere near the price we want. We are still very far apart. There is nothing remotely close to an agreement. The sale of Dominic Szoboszlai - which surprised us all on the last day - has given us security and peace of mind.
“We don’t really need the money now and we would prefer Gvardiol to stay. We are not one to block anything, but we have our ideas and we want them to be implemented.”
Leipzig are already armed with enough cash to resist City’s advances to get Gvardiol on the cheap. They have already banked in excess of £125 million this summer after selling Hungarian midfielder Szoboszlai to Liverpool for £62 million French striker Christoph Nkunku to Chelsea for £55 million.
Eberl added: “Financially we are fine. We have sold big and we have done good incoming deals. We have done 16 transfers in total and our 29-man squad is perfect if Gvardiol stays. Really we are fine with our team.”
