Manchester City earmark potential Josko Gvardiol arrival date as RB Leipzig identify replacement

RB Leipzig have started sourcing potential replacements for Josko Gvardiol, as Manchester City press ahead with a deal to sign the defender.

The 21 year-old is increasingly likely to become Manchester City’s second signing of the summer transfer window, following international teammate Mateo Kovacic to the Etihad Stadium, after the midfielder completed a £25 million move from Chelsea last month.

Gvardiol, who starred at the FIFA World Cup for Croatia and impressed once again in the Bundesliga and UEFA Champions League, could become the most expensive defender in the world, as RB Leipzig eye a €100 million transfer fee.

Manchester City have already agreed personal terms with the centre-back and are actively negotiating with RB Leipzig to agree a fee with the Bundesliga club.

Gvardiol made 30 Bundesliga appearances last season and also scored against City in the Champions League last-16, scoring the equaliser in the first-leg against the Premier League and European champions in February.

City are ‘pushing’ to agree their second singing of the summer, and feel that a deal is close, according to Graeme Bailey at 90min.

The overall structure of payments is reportedly still to be ironed out claim the outlet, however RB Leipzig have started looking at potential replacements for Gvardiol, who signed from Dinamo Zagreb in 2021.

Lutsharel Geertruida of Feyenoord is reportedly favourite to replace the 21 year-old at the Bundesliga club, as RB Leipzig brace themselves for a third major exit.

The German outfit have already lost key midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai to Liverpool and Christopher Nkunku to Chelsea.

It is further reported that Manchester City ‘expect’ to agree a deal for the defender prior to the Blues’ pre-season tour of East Asia, where Pep Guardiola’s side are scheduled to play three friendlies.

City are due to play J League’s Yokohama F Marinos and the reigning Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich at the Japan National Stadium later this month, before facing Atletico Madrid in South Korea.

Manchester City will also face Arsenal in the FA Community Shield at Wembley Stadium prior to starting their Premier League title defence against Burnley on Friday 11th August 2023.

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