Josko Gvardiol looks set for the Premier League this summer (Picture: Getty Images)
Manchester City are in advanced talks with RB Leipzig over a huge £86m move for Josko Gvardiol, according to reports.
The enormous fee would be a world record transfer for a defender, with the hierarchy at Leipzig admitting that the Croatian wants to leave for the Champions League winners.
The club’s sporting director Max Eberl told German outlet LVZ: ‘I can confirm that Josko Gvardiol and agents told us about their desire to move to Manchester City. We are in talks with Manchester. That’s all there is to say at the moment.’
The Telegraph report that the move is on the brink of completion and the 21-year-old is likely to be a Manchester City player in the coming days.
The centre-back, who can also play at left-back, has been linked with a number of clubs since he rose to prominence over the last couple of years.
Both Chelsea and Tottenham have shown interest in bringing him to the Premier League but are set to lose the race for his signature to the treble-winners.
At just 21 years old, Gvardiol has already amassed 52 first team appearances for Dynamo Zagreb and 88 for RB Leipzig, while he has picked up 21 caps for Croatia and starred in their run to finishing third at the World Cup last winter.
Pep Guardiola saw Gvardiol up close when Manchester City took on RB Leipzig in the last 16 of the Champions League this season.
The Premier League side may have won 7-0 at the Etihad, but the Spaniard was clearly impressed, with the Croatian admitted that they enjoyed a short chat after the match.
‘I extended my hand to Guardiola in the Champions League,’ said Gvardiol. ‘I congratulated him on going through.
‘Guardiola, a great coach, threw a few words at me. But I will keep them to myself.’
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A huge move for the 21-year-old is imminent.