---
title: "Man City: Sky Blues ‘leading’ Gvardiol transfer race"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-man-city-josko-gvardiol-update/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Emilio Galantini"
section: "Manchester City News"
published: "2023-03-10T07:10:34Z"
modified: "2023-03-10T07:10:34Z"
---

# Man City: Sky Blues ‘leading’ Gvardiol transfer race

**[Manchester City](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-city-news/) are ‘leading’ the race for RB Leipzig sensation Josko Gvardiol as they identify him as a ‘priority’ signing.**

### The Lowdown: City make transfer plans…

The [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/) champions are already making transfer plans ahead of the summer window amid their chase for a third-successive domestic crown.

One of the major positions tipped to be strengthened in [Pep Guardiola](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tag/pep-guardiola/)‘s side is [central midfield](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-city-news/premier-league-romeo-lavia-transfer-update-latest/) with club captain Ilkay Gundogan looking set to leave on a Bosman as things stand.

However, the central defence is another area which could be reinforced, especially with Aymeric Laporte now [linked](https://www.footmercato.net/a6808425328074519628-mercato-aymeric-laporte-est-pret-a-quitter-manchester-city) to leaving Eastlands.

### The Latest: City leading Gvardiol chase…

According to [The Daily Mail](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11834441/Man-City-Liverpool-Chelsea-hoping-sign-RB-Leipzigs-Josko-Gvardiol.html), City are in fact ‘leading’ the chase for Gvardiol ahead of both Liverpool and Chelsea.

All three sides hold a serious interest in the Croatia international but it’s City who are ‘ready’ to identify him as a ‘priority signing’.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”419177″\]

### The Verdict: Phenomenal player…

Gvardiol’s release clause of[£98 million](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11834441/Man-City-Liverpool-Chelsea-hoping-sign-RB-Leipzigs-Josko-Gvardiol.html)will kick in next year and he is set to cost a marquee price tag for any buyers.

That being said, the 21-year-old has undoubted quality, having recently [starred](https://twitter.com/ZachLowy/status/1598360414051479552) at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and even gave City problems recently.

Gvardiol grabbed a goal in the first leg of Guardiola’s last 16 Champions League tie against Leipzig, perhaps prompting the Spaniard to take further note Europe’s most promising centre-back.

Called ‘[sensational](https://twitter.com/ZachLowy/status/1598360414051479552)‘ by members of the media for his exploits in recent months, the defensive starlet could end up being one of the biggest transfers of 2023.