It is a small ironic that Josko Gvardiol, labelled by his national workforce supervisor as ‘the world’s finest centre back’ aged just 21, is potentially ideal regarded for 12 seconds of embarrassment towards Lionel Messi.
Those 12 seconds as he represented Croatia against Argentina in the Globe Cup semi-remaining, on a heat evening in Lusail in December, noticed Messi toy with him repeatedly, transform him inside and out, just before environment up Julian Alvarez for the killer blow.
But Gvardiol is one particular of the most coveted gamers in world football just after impressing for RB Leipzig and his country, with Manchester City reportedly making him one particular of their top rated transfer targets this summer time.
The Treble winners are ready to stage up their bid to sign the £86million-rated left-footed star described as supervisor Pep Guardiola’s ‘absolute dream’.
Here Mail Activity analyses the ace City could make the most high priced defender of all time, talk to if he is worth the price tag, and poses how and wherever he would suit in at the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester Town are ‘stepping up their attempts’ to indicator RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol
The German aspect want £86million for the Croatian centre fifty percent, with Metropolis ‘targeting him heavily’
Mail Sport analyses the male City could make the most highly-priced defender of all time, check with if he is worth the price tag tag, and how he would suit in at City below Pep Guardiola (pictured)
What’s the newest with Town and Gvardiol?
As noted by Mail Sport’s transfer insider Simon Jones on Sunday, City will step up attempts to signal Gvardiol following he indicated to RB Leipzig he is all set to leave.
German facet Leipzig are holding out for £86m for the 21-yr-previous, presented earlier club Dinamo Zagreb are recognized to have a market-on clause of close to 20 for every cent.
Experiences from Foot Mercato had previously claimed the club are ready to crack the lender in order to convey the centre fifty percent to Manchester.
It was claimed City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain has now satisfied with the player’s reps relating to a prospective transfer and Gvardiol has reportedly by now agreed private phrases to be part of the Champions League winners.
Guardiola is wanting to safe his key discounts early in a bid to waste no time in beginning preparations for the forthcoming marketing campaign.
And the Athletic point out City’s key transfer goal is Gvardiol after securing a offer for Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic on Tuesday. Kovacic’s connection with Gvardiol could grease the wheels far too.
Guardiola typically gets the players he wants – and it appears as if Gvardiol will be upcoming. He did indication a new 4-yr offer very last September, supposedly maintaining him in Leipzig right up until 2027, though it appears to be very not likely he will see that out absolutely.
It is claimed City chief Txiki Begiristain (suitable) has by now satisfied with Gvardiol’s reps
Mateo Kovacic concluded a move to Manchester Metropolis as the champions’ initially summer season signing
Is he value that?
Which is a tough issue to reply.
A cost of £86m (€100m) would make him the joint-12th most high priced transfer of all time, level with Eden Hazard and Gareth Bale’s moves to Authentic Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo’s change to Juventus.
It would also surpass Harry Maguire’s £80m transfer to Manchester United as the most significant rate for a defender ever. It is really a heck of a large amount of money, and only a handful of teams in the environment could manage him.
Is he the most effective centre back in the planet, as Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic claimed, right after a masterclass in a – attract versus Belgium that saw the country progress to the knockout phases in Qatar? Almost certainly not. But he is probably the most promising defender in the environment.
He is initially decision for the world’s seventh-rated side, with 21 caps currently, and at the age of just 21 has 140 senior video games beneath his belt, most in the Bundesliga, with 12 Champions League appearances. All those numbers will absolutely increase pretty before long.
If City purchase him, they can make it possible for him a year or so to establish and adapt to Guardiola’s type of perform and stringent needs, in advance of creating a defence all around him for the subsequent ten years.
So it may possibly be as well early to undoubtedly say he is worthy of that form of revenue – resounding judgements could have to hold out until finally we see him on the pitch in England. But is he worth the risk? For positive.
Also, if Metropolis or another club really don’t buy him ahead of summer 2024, his launch clause will bounce to £97m. Even more rationale to go now.
Gvardiol is a environment-course still left-footed defender and has an eye for target far too, as shown over
If Metropolis pay back £86m for him he will surpass Harry Maguire as the world’s most high priced defender
Why are so numerous clubs eager?
Globe-class centre backs are at a top quality, in particular those people who are just 21, and even much more so people who are still left-footed. Gvardiol is all of those 3 issues. You can see why Leipzig have internally labelled him ‘the Erling Haaland of defending’.
Looking at him perform, he is a extremely properly well balanced and complete participant. He is aggressive – decisive in stepping out of defence to assert loose balls and normally sliding in like Person United suitable back again Aaron Wan-Bissaka to toe the ball away – but not rash.
He can be a tiny about-keen at times, however, indicating he can be rolled a small much too simply. And his confidence on the ball and strong self-perception can from time to time cross the line into complacency.
He is ‘old-fashioned’ in so considerably as he posseses a wholehearted, passionate and proactive solution to defending but is also able of nerveless backheels to his goalkeeper and Cruyff turns earlier attackers when acting as the last person.
He is a progressive passer, adaptable plenty of to play at still left again, comfy on the ball and has an eye for goal far too, scoring against City in previous season’s Champions League and versus Morocco at the Environment Cup.
As described by the Athletic, 1 of his nicknames is ‘Little Pep’, and not only because of to their surnames currently being alike. Like Pep, he commenced his career in central midfield – and the City boss has reportedly held casual talks with him over his long term.
Chelsea admire him drastically and were being formerly at the head of the queue but are properly-stocked, notably in his favoured still left centre back place. Real Madrid are unlikely to be willing or capable to shell out the rate Leipzig want, specifically with loads of potent defensive selections like David Alaba, Eder Militao and Antonio Rudiger by now on their publications.
Jurgen Klopp would like him but Liverpool’s precedence is not at centre again, though Juventus are making around Gleison Bremer and there is plenty of uncertainty surrounding the club at the instant. He is also been top rated of Tottenham’s wishlist for two many years.
He is just one of the most coveted gamers in globe football thanks to his maturity and passing means
He narrowly missed out on the FIFA Younger Player award soon after a stellar Entire world Cup in December
Bouncing back from Messi humiliation
Certainly, Messi stood him up in Qatar.
And that, unfairly, intended the rest of Gvardiol’s mainly superb performances in Qatar were neglected, lowered to a viral social media clip lasting a fifth of a minute.
Right after beating Japan on penalties in the past 16, staff-mate Borna Sosa said: ‘He performs like he has 100 caps for the countrywide crew. But that is what happens when God gives you everything.’
And his job will not be described by 12 seconds against most likely the greatest footballer at any time to perform the sport. He is much much more than these problems.
Indeed, it will verify to be a beneficial finding out knowledge for the young person.
He rebounded to score and be named guy of the match from Morocco in the 3rd-area enjoy-off and narrowly skipped out to Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez for the FIFA Young Player award.
He was embarrassed by Lionel Messi (remaining) at the Planet Cup but will be able to bounce again
How and wherever would he suit in at Town?
Yes, Town now have five centre backs at the club, but with Aymeric Laporte set to leave, Gvardiol would be poised to acquire his position in the squad.
Like Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake, he can include still left again in a team of 4, and could even at some point be ready to act as 1 of the double midfied pivots, which John Stones and Rico Lewis have carried out so brilliantly in Guardiola’s 3-2-4-1 formation.
He may well perfectly act as a squad player for the to start with season or so, with Akanji or Ake acting as the starting off left centre back again together with Ruben Dias and Stones or Kyle Walker.
In short, it is not tough to see how Guardiola could healthy in a man of his considerable talent should he wander through the door this summer time.