While Newcastle United are currently looking for defensive reinforcements, Manchester City are about to make Josko Gvardiol the most expensive centre-back in world football.
Pep Guardiola’s side have been chasing Gvardiol all summer, and it even looked like their interest in the RB Leipzig star would hinder our bid for Dominik Szoboszlai. In the end, it did not matter as Liverpool swooped in to sign the Hungarian.
Now it looks like Man City are about to complete a deal for the 21-year-old, as last season’s treble winners grow even stronger.
Man City set to sign Josko Gvardiol
According to Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City are ironing out the remaining details with RB Leipzig to sign Gvardiol. He states that a £78million deal is in place between the two clubs, with a medical pencilled in for Friday.
As the new Premier League season edges closer, Man City’s defensive options are about to increase, with Gvardiol on the brink of joining the likes of John Stones, Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake.
They were a fantastic defensive unit last season, and it will only grow stronger with the addition of Gvardiol.
The Croatian defender is already a star at such a young age, and has the scope to become one of the best defenders in the world. That is why he was previously compared to Liverpool superstar Virgil van Dijk.
His arrival will make Man City even more difficult to conquer, and there will be some envy from Alan Shearer when he sees Gvardiol at the Etihad Stadium.
Alan Shearer wanted him at Newcastle
Gvardiol was part of the Croatia squad that finished third at the 2022 World Cup.
He was exceptional in Qatar, impressing a lot of pundits with his commanding performances in red and white.
And while Shearer does not normally like players in those colours, he certainly was impressed with Gvardiol.
Ahead of Croatia’s Round of 16 clash with Japan, the former Newcastle United striker spoke about the possibility of seeing the defender at St James’ Park.
He told BBC Sport: “He’d look good in a black and white shirt him, wouldn’t he?”
That was true at the time, and it is still true now. But instead he will be wearing a blue shirt – providing there are not any late hitches in his move to Man City.
Interestingly, Gvardiol is a player who Newcastle were linked with after the takeover. He was a target heading into last summer, but the club bought Sven Botman instead.
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