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Man City 'on verge of agreement' for second signing after Mateo Kovacic transfer
Manchester City will reportedly move quickly for their next transfer target after sealing a deal for Mateo Kovacic.
Guardiola: 'Mbappe not joining Man City — you know where he wants to go.'
Manchester City are closing in on two deals as Pep Guardiola looks to reinforce his treble-winning squad early in the summer transfer window. Mateo Kovacic is closing in on a switch from Chelsea, with a team-mate potentially set to join him at the Etihad Stadium, according to reports.
Sky Germany claim that City are close to completing a move for Kovacic, who is approaching the final 12 months of his Chelsea contract.
It's said that the newly-crowned European champions should finalise the transfer worth around £25million by the end of the week.
But Guardiola isn't done there and wants to recruit another of Croatia's top stars to bolster his defence next season.
According to Fabrizio Romano, City will push harder for RB Leipzig centre-back Josko Gvardiol after securing a deal for Kovacic.
The report claims that the Citizens are on the brink of agreeing personal terms with Gvardiol, considered one of Europe's most talented young defenders.
Ilkay Gundogan 'says yes' to next club with Chelsea and Man City decision made
Manchester City ace Ilkay Gundogan looks set to depart the Etihad Stadium this summer after reportedly saying “yes” to a move to Barcelona.
The 32-year-old was City’s captain last season and led the team to a famous treble.
However, Leipzig are said to want more than his touted £68m price tag after rejecting a £77m approach from Chelsea last summer.
Kovacic previously described the 21-year-old as "phenomenal" when he was strongly linked with a move to Stamford Bridge.
City have made Kovacic a priority target ahead of Ilkay Gundogan's potential exit once his contract expires at the end of the month.
The Germany international is said to have suitors in Arsenal, Barcelona and the Middle East amid a surge of Saudi Arabian activity.
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Kovacic and Gvardiol could be a part of a significant upheaval at the Etihad this summer, with Guardiola potentially overseeing the start of a slight rebuild after achieving the epitome of club football.
Kyle Walker, Aymeric Laporte, Joao Cancelo, Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez join Gundogan in being linked with moves away from Manchester.
The likes of John Stones and Kevin De Bruyne also aren't getting any younger, and with Guardiola's 2025 contract expiry approaching, the winds of change are teasing the City faithful.
But Kovacic's arrival would limit a quality drop-off in midfield post-Gundogan, and recruiting Gvardiol would seal an elite defender for years to come.
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