Gvardiol wants Man City move, says RB Leipzig chief

Croatia defender Josko Gvardiol has told RB Leipzig that he wants to move to Manchester City, says the German club’s sports director Max Eberl.

BBC Sport understands City have yet to make a bid.

“Josko and his advisors have submitted the wish to us for a transfer to Manchester City,” Eberl told Leipziger Volkszeitung newspaper.

“We are in talks. There is nothing more to say about it at this moment.”

Reports suggest Gvardiol could cost in the region of £86m, which would make him the most expensive defender in football history.

Gvardiol helped Croatia reach the semi-finals of the World Cup in Qatar last year, while he finished third in the Bundesliga and won the German Cup with Leipzig last season.

He was also part of the Leipzig side which was knocked out of the Champions League by City in the last campaign, following a 1-1 draw in Germany and a 7-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium.

If Gvardiol leaves, he would become the latest high profile player to depart from Leipzig this summer following the exits of Christopher Nkunku, Dominik Szoboszlai and Konrad Laimer.

France forward Nkunku has joined Chelsea, Hungary midfielder Szoboszlai has been signed by Liverpool, and Laimer has left for domestic rivals for Bayern Munich.

“I can understand the disappointment and concern of the fans,” Eberl said. “No club and no coach in this world wants to lose players of this calibre.

“But we have been prepared for this and I can promise that we will have once more a good and exciting team.”