05 August 2023 , 16:18
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Manchester City will look to cash in on Aymeric Laporte after completing a £77million deal for Croatian centre-back Josko Gvardiol.
Gvardiol, 21, has signed a five-year deal worth £130,000-a-week after the Premier League champions were able to negotiate a £10million reduction on RB Leipzig’s original asking price.
His arrival means City will try to offload Laporte, the 29-year-old Spanish international who has won five Premier League titles, the Champions League, two FA Cups and three EFL Cups in the five-and-a-half years since he arrived from Athletic Bilbao for £57million.
Arsenal, Tottenham and Aston Villa have all been monitoring Laporte’s situation at the Etihad since Pep Guardiola turned more towards playing Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji on the left side of his defence last season.
City would prefer to sell to a foreign club - and value the defender at £30million. Gvardiol’s only appearance at the Etihad saw Erling Haaland score five times in City’s 7-0 Champions League annihilation of Leipzig last season.
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But Guardiola has been a long-term admirer of the left-footed youngster, who helped his country finish third at the World Cup in Qatar. He becomes City’s second summer capture following the £30million arrival of Gvardiol’s international team-mate Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea.
Gvardiol said: “I have always dreamed of one day playing in England and to be doing so now with Manchester City – after the season they have just had – is a real honour for me.
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“Anyone who saw Manchester City play last season knows they are the best team in the world. To win the Treble says everything you need to know about the quality this team has.
“To be joining City is something very special for me and my family. To have the chance to work with Pep Guardiola, too, will be amazing for me. I know I am not yet the finished article and I am sure my game will progress under the best coach in football.
“To be linking up with Mateo Kovačić will also be special. He’s a top footballer and I hope we can both help City achieve another successful season in 2023-24 and then beyond.”