Transfer Centre

Liverpool considering hijacking Manchester City bid for Josko Gvardiol?

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 31 July 2023

Liverpool considering hijacking Man City bid for Josko Gvardiol?

Liverpool could reportedly still try to hijack Manchester City's £85.9m move for RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol, who is also wanted by Chelsea and Manchester United.

Liverpool reportedly remain in the race for RB Leipzig centre-back Josko Gvardiol and could still hijack Manchester City's attempts to sign the Croatia international.

Since seeing a proposed move to Chelsea break down last year, Gvardiol has announced his desire to compete in the Premier League as he continues to go from strength to strength in Germany.

Earlier this summer, it was reported that Man City had reached an agreement to sign the former Dinamo Zagreb man, who has completed the first part of his Citizens medical.

Man City had seemingly shown a willingness to meet Leipzig's €100m (£85.9m) asking price for Gvardiol, which would make the 21-year-old the most expensive defender of all time.

However, Pep Guardiola's side have since hit a roadblock in their pursuit of Gvardiol, and Leipzig director Max Eberl recently denied claims that an agreement was in place.

RB Leipzig's Josko Gvardiol pictured during the warm up before the match on March 14, 2023 © Reuters

Leipzig have supposedly ordered Man City to agree a fee by the second weekend of August if they are to push a deal over the line, otherwise their Premier League rivals could try to swoop in.

According to Fichajes, Liverpool - who have previously been linked with a move for Gvardiol - are still attentive to developments as Jurgen Klopp aims to bolster his backline.

The report states that the Reds are prepared to fight "tooth and nail" to win the race for his signature, but Manchester United and Chelsea are not giving up the ghost either.

However, Chelsea are instead thought to be prioritising a £38.5m deal for Axel Disasi, while Man United's focus is on finalising the arrival of Danish striker Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta BC.

While Klopp is understood to want a new defender at Anfield this summer, the exit of Jordan Henderson and anticipated departure of Fabinho means that another midfielder is the number one item on his agenda.

Josko Gvardiol celebrates scoring for RB Leipzig on February 22, 2023 © Reuters

As a result, a separate report from Football Insider claims that Man City are still optimistic of winning the race for Gvardiol, and the treble winners remain in dialogue with their Leipzig counterparts.

Gvardiol commanded a £16.2m fee to leave Zagreb for Leipzig at the age of 19 in 2021, and the centre-back has five goals and three assists under his belt from 87 games for Die Roten Bullen.

The 2002-born starlet - who is regarded as one of the most promising defenders in Europe - has won back-to-back DFB-Pokal crowns with Leipzig, who tied him down to a new contract until 2027 last summer.

Should Man City manage to get Gvardiol through the door, the Citizens are expected to sanction Aymeric Laporte's exit after the Spain international fell down the pecking order under Guardiola.

Meanwhile, Joel Matip and Nat Phillips could both leave Liverpool for the right price, while Rhys Williams has joined Aberdeen on loan for the 2023-24 campaign.