Report: Manchester City fail with big bid for defensive target

Manchester City have seen an €80m (£66.8m) bid for defender Josko Gvardiol rejected by RB Leipzig, it has been claimed in Germany.

Gvardiol has been on the wanted lists of several clubs this summer but Leipzig have so far resisted selling him.

The 20-year-old enjoyed an impressive first season with the German club in 2021-22, making 45 appearances across all competitions as well as winning the DFB-Pokal.

Gvardiol has since attracted interest from the Premier League, with Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur all believed to be keeping tabs on the left-footed defender.

Recent reports claims Manchester City are now pushing to take him to the Etihad as part of a concerted effort to bring in a top-class centre-back.

According to German daily Bild, the Bundesliga outfit have turned down an €80m (£66.8m) offer from the Premier League for the Croatia international.

The report adds that Leipzig have no interest in selling Gvardiol to City, Chelsea or any other club in this summer’s transfer window.

Leipzig, who signed Gvardiol for around £17m in 2020, are under no pressure to sell the youngster, who still has four years remaining on his contract.

The Citizens currently have four senior centre-back options in the form of Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte, John Stones and Nathan Ake, but they are now light in the left-back department following Oleksandr Zinchenko’s move to Arsenal.

City have been heavily linked with a move for Brighton & Hove Albion’s Marc Cucurella throughout this summer, but they are unwilling to meet the Seagulls’ £50m asking price – a valuation Chelsea, however, are allegedly willing to pay.

Pep Guardiola’s side now seem to have turned their attention to 6ft 1in defender Gvardiol, who can operate at both centre-back and left-back.

Gvardiol played seven times as a left-back for Leipzig last season, while all four of his appearances for Croatia at Euro 2020 saw him play on the left side of a back four.