Manchester City have offered €90m (£77.4m) plus add-ons for RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol, according to Sky Sports Germany.
The treble winners are said to be locked in talks about signing the Croatian international and it remains to be seen whether their bid will be deemed acceptable.
Leipzig were believed to be holding out for €100m (£86m) to sell Gvardiol so the two sides are not too far apart in negotiations. If City have included realistic performance-related add-ons in their deal, there is a good chance that an agreement can be reached.
Personal terms have already been hashed out according to multiple reports, so finding a compromise on the fee is the only thing standing in the way of the centre-back making the switch to the Etihad Stadium.
Gvardiol was a target for another Premier League club last summer
Chelsea have previously tried to sign the 21-year-old, having had a bid knocked back almost a year ago for the player.
Rather than force through a move, though, Gvardiol opted to sign a contract extension, which included a €110m (£94.6m) release clause that comes into effect next year.
City are seeking a replacement for Aymeric Laporte
With Laporte having publicly expressed his dissatisfaction about the lack of game time he was given by manager Pep Guardiola last season, it is clear that the Spanish international is pressing to leave.
Gvardiol is seen as an ideal replacement due to his similarities to Laporte. The Croatian was praised by former Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand for his “wand for a left foot” during the World Cup last year:
“I have to say, he has been my favourite defender to watch in the tournament so far. He has got a great presence, he is happy for the battles, very physical and has a wand for a left foot. He has got pace too and I think all those attributes you need as a modern-day defender.”
