Manchester City are expected to complete the signing of Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig this week in a deal that will see the centre-back become the most expensive defender of all time.
City have been in negotiations with Leipzig over a deal to sign Gvardiol, who has emerged as one of the most promising defenders in European football across two seasons in the Bundesliga.
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Fabrizio Romano is reporting that the two clubs are ‘ironing out’ the final details of a record-breaking deal and the 20-year-old will undergo a medical on Friday should an agreement be finalised.
The fee for Gvardiol will be around €90m and will make the Croatian the most expensive defender in football history, eclipsing the €87m figure that took Harry Maguire to Manchester United from Leicester in 2019.
Gvardiol impressed as Croatia reached the World Cup semi-finals in Qatar last winter and the left-sided defender has earned a reputation for progressive carries and passing from the backline.
His arrival could allow Aymeric Laporte to depart in search of regular first-team football with the Spain international having been linked with a return to Athletic Bilbao.
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