Manchester City are not resting on their laurels after winning a Treble, looking to bring the perfect centre-back in who can complete them
(Image credit: Tom Flathers/Manchester City FC via Getty Images)
Manchester City are in talks with a defender who could practically complete their squad.
The Citizens have recently won a historic Treble, sewing up a first-ever Champions League to go with a third straight Premier League title and second FA Cup under Pep Guardiola – but the squad is by no means complete in the eyes of the Catalan, who has been looking for a left-back ever since last summer.
Manchester City pursued Marc Cucurella last summer (Image credit: Harriet Lander - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that negotiations are "progressing well" for RB Leipzig star, Josko Gvardiol, who wowed at the World Cup for third-placed Croatia.
"Understand Manchester City are advancing on Josko Gvardiol deal on player side," he tweeted. "Leipzig will only sell Gvardiol for huge fee otherwise they are prepared to keep him for one more season."
With a fee of around £100 million touted at certain stages of Gvardiol's development, there is a chance that City could actually break their all-time transfer record – currently held by Jack Grealish.
This feels somewhat unlikely given that Leipzig have never received nine figures for a player before but given that the east German outfit are prepared to hold onto the Croatian if need be, could force City's hand in paying nine figures. Chelsea and Liverpool have both been linked with Gvardiol, too.
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Josko Gvardiol could leave the Bundesliga for a huge fee (Image credit: Adam Pretty - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
City are also in talks with Chelsea's Mateo Kovacic, according to Romano, with personal terms 100 per cent agreed.
Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.
