Mateo Kovacic launches charm offensive to help Man City sign top transfer target
Mateo Kovacic reckons his Croatian international teammate Josko Gvardiol would be a perfect fit at Manchester City.
City have been given a two-week deadline by RB Leipzig to complete an £87million deal for the powerful centre-back after the two clubs failed to agree on the structure of add-ons to be included.
Gvardiol has made it clear to the Bundesliga club that he wants the chance to play for the treble winners - but is reluctant to try to force his departure and has been training with his usual intensity at Leipzig’s training camp in the Austrian Tirol.
Kovacic, a £30million acquisition from Chelsea earlier this summer, has no doubts that Gvardiol is the real deal at the age of 21. He said: “Of course, I’d like him (Gvardiol) to join. I know he’s very young and has great potential. He can come here and learn and be the best version of himself like he wants to be for sure.
“It’s not for me to comment if it’s going to happen or not. I’d obviously like it – I’m good friends with him and he’s Croatian. It would be nice to have a Croatian by my side here.”
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Gvardiol has developed a reputation for being a ruthless operator - even though his only appearance at the Etihad saw Erling Haaland score five times as Leipzig were destroyed 7-0 by City in the Champions League last season.
He has played 21 times for his country having made his debut in 2021 - and was in the Croatia team beaten by England at the delayed European Championships later that summer.
Gvardiol also scored in Croatia’s 2-1 victory over Morocco as they secured the bronze medal for the second successive World Cup in Qatar last winter. He played the tournament wearing a protective mask to protect a broken cheekbone.
Kovacic came on as a second-half substitute as City’s three-game pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea ended in a 2-1 defeat by Atletico Madrid. He said: “Josko is still young but he’s very mature for his age. He doesn’t need too much advice.
Josko Gvardiol is a Manchester City transfer target (Jan Woitas/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)“He’s already played a lot of big games and I think he’s ready for this step. He had a great World Cup and a great season with RB Leipzig, so it would be nice for him to join such a big club and try to improve even more.
“I think it’s a good time (to join City). They are on a great run, a very confident team and a team you can learn from - and they have possibly the best manager in history. I came here to join a great group and to try to learn - and so can he.”
Leipzig want the package of bonuses to be more easily achievable so that they can get full value for a player who finished sixth in the Kepka Trophy last year, the award that recognises the best players in Europe under the age of 21.
He helped Leipzig retain the German Cup last season - a victory which earned them a Super Cup clash with Bayern Munich on August 12. Leipzig have told City they want Gvardiol’s future decided by then.
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