Manchester City’s move to sign Josko Gvardiol is still on despite ‘tension’ with RB Leipzig as the two clubs look to finalise a deal.
City have reached a verbal agreement to sign the Croatian centre-back from the Bundesliga side, with a medical examination scheduled to take place on Friday.
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However, Fabrizio Romano is reporting that there is tension between the two clubs following the leak of the agreement, with Leipzig having failed to give the green light for Gvardiol to undergo his medical at the Etihad.
Despite the tension, the move remains on and City are confident of concluding a deal for the 21-year-old. The agreed fee remains undisclosed, but Gvardiol is expected to become the most expensive defender of all time if a move to the Premier League is confirmed, surpassing the £80m fee that took Harry Maguire to Manchester United in 2019.
Gvardiol has built a reputation as one of Europe’s best young centre-backs during two seasons at Leipzig and shone as Croatia reached the World Cup semi-finals in Qatar last winter.
A left-sided defender who thrives in progressing the ball from the backline, his arrival could pave the path for Aymeric Laporte to leave City in search of regular first-team football.
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