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Man City finally agree mammoth Josko Gvardiol fee as Man Utd left red-faced
Man City have agreed a deal to sign Josko Gvardiol from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.
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Manchester City have finally agreed a deal to sign RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol, Express Sport understands. The Premier League champions will pay £77.5million (€90m) to sign the highly-rated Croatian.
City have been long-term admirers of the 21-year-old but had up until now failed to meet Leipzig's huge asking price. Pep Guardiola wants to add another left-footed defender to his squad following the success of his three-at-the-back system last season.
Gvardiol fits that profile as he can play as both a centre-back and a left-back. He could occupy the role played by both Nathan Ake and Aymeric Laporte last season, who would start as left-backs before sliding across into a more central position when City had possession.
City faced a tough task trying to convince Leipzig to sell their most coveted star. However, Express Sport understands that a deal has now been agreed.
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The Etihad Stadium outfit will pay an up-front fee of £77.5m for the former Dinamo Zagreb prospect. Leipzig will not be due any further add-ons. A transfer is subject to Gvardiol passing a medical and minor details to tie up.
Despite his huge potential, Gvardiol will not become the Premier League's most expensive defender. That title continues to be held by Harry Maguire, who cost Manchester United an extortionate £80m in 2019.
Maguire could leave the Red Devils for a fraction of that fee this summer, having fallen out of favour under Erik ten Hag last season. City will hope that Gvardiol fares far better than the England centre-back, who was brutally stripped of the United captaincy earlier this summer.
Gvardiol played 30 times in the Bundesliga last season. He helped Leipzig win the DFB-Pokal, although he was sent off in the semi-final victory over Freiburg in February and subsequently missed the final through injury.
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The powerful youngster could be part of a new-look City back line next season. It is widely reported that Kyle Walker is attracting interest from Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.
Joao Cancelo's future at the club appears bleak, having been shipped out on loan to Bayern in January. Laporte has also been linked with an exit.
Gvardiol would become City's second summer signing. The Treble winners completed the free transfer arrival of Mateo Kovacic at the start of July, with the Croatian replacing the outgoing Ilkay Gundogan.