Manchester City are expected to complete the signing of Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig this week in a deal that will see the centre-back become the most expensive defender of all time.
City have been in negotiations with Leipzig over a deal to sign Gvardiol, who has emerged as one of the most promising defenders in European football across two seasons in the Bundesliga.
Fabrizio Romano is reporting that the two clubs are ‘ironing out’ the final details of a record-breaking deal and the 20-year-old will undergo a medical on Friday should an agreement be finalised.
The fee for Gvardiol will be around €90m and will make the Croatian the most expensive defender in football history, eclipsing the €87m figure that took Harry Maguire to Manchester United from Leicester in 2019.
Gvardiol impressed as Croatia reached the World Cup semi-finals in Qatar last winter and the left-sided defender has earned a reputation for progressive carries and passing from the backline.
His arrival could allow Aymeric Laporte to depart in search of regular first-team football with the Spain international having been linked with a return to Athletic Bilbao.
