Manchester City and Real Madrid set for second transfer battle amid Jude Bellingham saga

European football giants Real Madrid and Manchester City are set to face off on more than one occasion this summer for a potential signing.

The La Liga side are one of several teams showing a serious interest in Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham this summer, with the England international also understood to be City’s number one choice in central midfield.

Etihad Stadium officials are in the market for a new face in the centre of the park, amid continued uncertainty regarding the futures of both club captain Ilkay Gundogan, as well as Bernardo Silva – both of whom are attracting interest from Barcelona.

However, it is not just midfield where Manchester City may be forced to recruit, with Aymeric Laporte not certain to continue with the Blues into next season following a disappointing ongoing campaign in terms of game time.

Should the Spain international decide to leave the Etihad in the coming weeks and months, then Txiki Begiristain and his colleagues will likely turn to the market for a direct replacement, with a familiar name now understood to be the club’s number one choice.

According to the information of 90Min, Josko Gvardiol is now the top centre-back target for both Manchester City and Real Madrid ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window, with RB Leipzig looking to secure £75 million for the Croatian.

City witnessed the talents of the 21 year-old first-hand in the UEFA Champions League this season, as the Croatia international scored a decisive first-leg equaliser at the last-16 stage of the competition.

However, that would be all the joy that Gvardiol and his RB Leipzig teammates would endure against Manchester City, as Erling Haaland’s five-goal haul in the second-leg inspired Pep Guardiola’s players to a 7-0 win in the second-leg of the clash.

Josko Gvardiol and RB Leipzig currently sit in fifth position in the Bundesliga table – 10 points behind the current league leaders and Manchester City’s Champions League quarter-final opponents, Bayern Munich.