Man City want to push through a deal for Josko Gvardiol BEFORE Sunday’s Community Shield against Arsenal – and the fee is set to be BELOW £86m after a breakthrough in talks
- Manchester City want to wrap up a deal for Josko Gvardiol before the weekend
- The English champions will take on Arsenal in Sunday’s Community Shield
- City boss Pep Guardiola is keen to complete a transfer before that match
Manchester City are attempting to push through a deal for RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol before Sunday’s Community Shield against Arsenal.
Tuesday brought fresh encouragement of an agreement being reached between the two clubs, with Red Bull supremo Oliver Mintzlaff – who heads up the energy drink giant’s entire sporting partnerships – leading the talks.
Mail Sport understands the fee for one of the most highly-regarded young central defenders in Europe is likely come in at below Leipzig’s quoted £86million valuation.
Gvardiol has been tracked by City for months and negotiations took a significant step forward over the last 24 hours with the involvement of Mintzlaff.
Leipzig had wanted a resolution to the situation before the start of the season and talks have ramped up as City sought to secure Pep Guardiola’s No 1 defensive target, who shone for Croatia at the World Cup.
Manchester City want to complete a deal for Josko Gvardiol before the Community Shield
The fee for Gvardiol (right) is likely to come in at below Leipzig’s quoted £86million valuation
International team-mate Mateo Kovacic, so far City’s only signing of the transfer window, said earlier this week that Gvardiol is ready for the step up to the Premier League and hopes a switch is wrapped up.
City’s business has been a slow burner this summer, with a focus on potential departures.
Kyle Walker is still attracting interest from Bayern Munich, despite the clubs not coming to an agreement while both in Japan on pre-season tours.
Bernardo Silva has been the subject of a huge offer from the Saudi Pro League.
City boss Pep Guardiola (right) has earmarked Gvardiol (left) as his primary defensive target
There is hope that Silva – who has looked engaged during City’s friendlies – will remain for the season after Paris Saint-Germain ended their pursuit in the midfielder.
Gvardiol’s expected arrival leaves Aymeric Laporte further down the pecking order and the Spain international is likely to leave after failing to nail down a regular spot during the Treble campaign.
Jeremy Doku of Rennes had been mentioned by sources as a possible target earlier in the year but talk surrounding the winger had quietened until the 21-year-old was linked with the Premier League champions on Tuesday.
City have existing options in the squad to cover the departure of Riyad Mahrez, who joined Al-Ahli for £30m, but had already been looking for wide men before the Algerian left.
