In a recent report, Fichajes mentioned that Manchester City could face stiff competition for Red Bull Leipzig ace Josko Gvardiol. It has been claimed that the Mancunian giants will have to rival Liverpool, Chelsea and Barcelona in the race to land the Croatia international.
Gvardiol’s Dominant Season In German Football
Gvardiol is having a solid campaign for both his club and country as he has managed to produce a series of dominant displays on the defensive third of the pitch. He has been involved in 19 matches for the German outfit this season, scoring one goal in various competitions.
The 20-year-old deserves a pat on the back for averaging 0.6 interceptions, 1.5 clearances and 0.6 dribbles per game in Bundesliga. He has even been careful when distributing possession from the back after making 89.1% of his attempted passes in the German top tier (stats via whoscored).
His current contract at the Red Bull Arena will expire in the summer of 2027. Hence, Man City will have to launch a mammoth offer if they are serious about recruiting the Croatia international next year.
Should Manchester City Boss Pep Guardiola Move In For Gvardiol?
Gvardiol is a solid tackler of the ball and can read the danger well to secure the ball back for his team on the defensive third of the pitch. He excels at playing his way out from the back and can use his powerful 1.85m frame to dominate the opposition attackers in the air. Gvardiol mainly operates as a central defender but can also fill in as a left-back if his manager tells him to do so.
The Croatia international is a bright young defender who is only going to get better with each season. Hence, it makes sense for Pep Guardiola to move in for him during the January transfer window or next summer as he will improve his defensive options for the long run.
Gvardiol would be a great, long-term acquisition for Man City to pursue in 2023 and could help the Mancunian giants maintain their dominance in domestic football and even challenge for the UEFA Champions League trophy in the coming seasons.
However, Gvardiol is still quite raw and would need time to prove his worth in English football if Man City can find a way to bring him to the Etihad Stadium next year. He might struggle to initially adapt to the physical nature of Premier League football and has the potential to become a future star in England.
