The 21-year-old has emerged as one of City’s top transfer targets this summer and talks are underway with Leipzig over a deal that would make the Croatian the most expensive defender of all time.
Personal terms are almost agreed with Gvardiol , who has made it clear to Leipzig that he wants to join the European champions.
Leipzig have publicly stated that City will have to fork out nearly €100m (£86m) plus add-ons to sign Guardiola, and last season’s treble winners admit they will have to make him the most expensive defender of all time, eclipsing the £80m fee from their neighbors rivals Manchester United paid Leicester for Harry Maguire in 2019.
If and when the deal is completed, Gvardiol will become City’s second most expensive signing – Jack Grealish’s £100m move from Aston Villa is the current club record.
City feel a deal is close but the overall payment structure still needs to be fine-tuned. However, all parties expect the deal to be completed before City travel to Asia on a pre-season tour later this month – their first game is in Tokyo against Yokohama F. Marinos on July 23.
Leipzig, while standing firm on their valuation, are already eyeing a potential replacement for Guardiola and sources have confirmed that talks with Feyenoord over Dutch defender Lutsharel Geertruid are at an advanced stage.
The highly-rated 22-year-old is valued at more than €25m by the Eredivisie champions, who have already rejected two bids from Leipzig. But Geertruida is believed to have accepted the personal terms offered to him in the Bundesliga and is thrilled to be making the move.
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