Gvardiol previously signed a contract extension with RB Leipzig until the summer of 2027, giving the German side the leverage to demand a significant transfer fee. Despite interest from Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Real Madrid in the past, recent speculation surrounding Gvardiol's future has cooled due to his hefty price tag, deterring potential suitors. However, Manchester City has apparently expedited their efforts to secure Gvardiol's services for the upcoming 2023-24 campaign, with other rivals no longer in contention.
Notably, Fabrizio Romano reports that Manchester City is close to finalizing personal terms with Gvardiol. Yet, reaching an agreement with RB Leipzig is expected to present another challenge. The German club is determined to retain the young center-back and would demand a fee exceeding €80m (£68.9m) for his transfer in the following weeks.
Gvardiol expressed his ambition to play in the Premier League earlier this year, sparking interest from English clubs. However, he later clarified that Leipzig has no intentions of offloading him during this summer transfer window. The Croatian player joined Leipzig in 2021 from Dinamo Zagreb for a fee of €18.8m (£16.2m) and has since amassed an impressive record of five goals and three assists in 87 appearances across various competitions. Gvardiol has also earned acclaim for his performances at the 2022 World Cup, where he played every minute for Croatia's bronze-medal-winning team and even scored in the third-place playoff against Morocco.
While Manchester City currently possesses strong defensive options, Aymeric Laporte's future remains uncertain, as he has taken on a squad role in recent years. There are rumors that Manchester City is willing to sell Laporte once a replacement is secured, with Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur reportedly interested in the Spanish international.
Furthermore, Manchester City is set to acquire another Croatian talent, Mateo Kovacic, from Chelsea, with a reported fee of £30m. Kovacic's arrival is said to be a replacement for Ilkay Gundogan, who appears set to reject Manchester City's contract offers in favor of a move to Barcelona.
