The WORLD RECORD cost of Gvardiol to Man City - Fabrizio Romano

Carlo Garganese

• 4 Jul 2023 08:25 BST
• 3 min read

Manchester City have been told they will have to smash the world transfer record for a defender after having an initial bid rejected for Josko Gvardiol.

City are in talks to sign the Leipzig defender but Fabrizio Romano reports that a €75 million verbal bid - plus add-ons - was rejected by the German side.

Leipzig have made it clear that City will have to pay at least €100m in order to sign Gvardiol this summer.

READ MORE: Premier League 2023/24 summer transfers: All the Done Deals

This will smash the current world transfer fee record for a defender of €87m, which Man Utd paid for Harry Maguire from Leicester in 2019.

Nevertheless, multiple sources are confident this deal will be done as Gvardiol has already agreed personal terms with City.

Gvardiol has emerged as arguably the most exciting young central defender in Europe over the last year and Pep Guardiola is known to be a huge fan of the player.

READ MORE: Out of contract in 2023: The best free agents available on a Bosman

Guardiola has made the signing of a new centre back his priority this summer and Gvardiol is top of the wish list.

Gvardiol brilliant in 2022-23

Gvardiol was one of the best defenders at the 2022 World Cup for Croatia, who made it all the way to the semi-finals, finishing third.

He did struggle against Lionel Messi in the semi-final defeat to Argentina, but was otherwise brilliant.

Gvardiol also impressed for Leipzig and actually scored for them against Man City in their Champions League last-16 first leg in Germany.

The two teams drew 1-1 before City won the second leg on the way to claiming the title.

Despite winning the treble, Guardiola is busy evolving his squad this summer and is expected to make a number of signings and sales.