German Club RB Leipzig have told Premier League club Manchester City that it needs 100 million Euros to sign Croatian Josko Gvardiol. Pep Guardiola is keen on signing the defender, but the 21-year-old defender’s release clause can only be triggered next season.

Gvardiol’s release clause is in excess of 110m euros (£94.35m), and RB Leipzig do not want to sell him for less this summer. The center-back played 41 matches for Leipzig last season in all competitions.

He featured in both legs of their Champions League last-16 tie against Manchester City and even scored in the first leg, although they went on to lose 8-1 on aggregate.

He has made 21 appearances for the Croatian national team and played every single minute of all their matches at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar as they ended up as the third-place team after beating Morocco in a third-place match in a game that Josko Gvardiol scored in.

Manchester City may potentially lose Aymeric Laporte this summer, and Pep Guardiola sees Josko as a perfect replacement as he can play in any variation of the defensive lineup.

Already Manchester City have seen Ilkay Gundogan leave the club for Barcelona as he chose to sign a 3-year deal with the La Liga champions rather than extend his contract with Manchester City.

However, should Manchester City agree a deal for the former Dinamo Zagreb defender, he will be the most expensive defender surpassing Manchester United Harry Maguire, who was signed from Leicester City for 80 million pounds.

The treble winners have also agreed on a deal to sign Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea for a 30 million pound price. Manchester City won the Premier League FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League beating Arsenal, Manchester United, and Inter Milan to all three titles.

Daniel Ademiju Idowu