“Will Join The Race Next Summer” Romano Makes Transfer Claim As City Vie With Chelsea For 78M Rated Bundesliga Star

“Will Join The Race Next Summer” Romano Makes Transfer Claim As City Vie With Chelsea For 78M Rated Bundesliga Star

Manchester City are expected to “join the race” for RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol “next summer”, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Chelsea made a bid (reported to be worth in the region of €90m/£78m) before the transfer window closed, but the Croatian international signed a new contract instead. However, Romano believes the battle for the centre-back could reignite at the end of the season:

Gvardiol is a left-footed centre-back so you would have to assume that City are expecting one of either Nathan Ake or Aymeric Laporte to leave next year.

Both have had their injury problems but, as Ake was close to joining Chelsea, you would suspect that the Netherlands international would be the one to make way for Gvardiol.

There has been no indication that Leipzig agreed to include a release clause in their new deal with Gvardiol like they did with Christopher Nkunku, so it looks likely that the Croatian could break the transfer record for a defender.