Josko Gvardiol close to making £77.5million move to Manchester City – reports

By Sports Desk August 02, 2023

Manchester City are closing in on a 90million euro (£77.5million) deal for RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol, according to reports.

Leipzig were said to be holding out for a fee of 100m euros (£86m) for the Croatia international.

However, it appears City have been able to push the transfer through and Gvardiol is expected have a medical later this week.

Gvardiol would add competition on the left side of City’s defence, having helped Croatia reach the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup and then the final of the Nations League, where they were beaten by Spain.

Midfielder Mateo Kovacic is so far City’s only summer signing, with the Croatian having moved from Chelsea during June.

City saw captain Ilkay Gundogan leave for Barcelona on a free transfer and Riyad Mahrez last week completed a switch to Saudi Arabia club Al-Ahli in a £30m deal.

The Premier League champions will take on Arsenal in the FA Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday.

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    PLAYERS TO WATCH 

    Tottenham – Dejan Kulusevski 

    Kulsevski has been directly involved in five goals in his four Premier League games against City, more than he has versus any other opponent in the competition (three goals, two assists).

    The Swede scored a last-minute equaliser as the sides played out a thrilling 3-3 draw in December's reverse fixture, but he has failed to net in any of his last 11 Premier League matches.

    Manchester City – Phil Foden

    Foden and Jack Grealish both scored in City's reverse fixture against Spurs. The only previous players to score home and away against Tottenham in a Premier League season for the Citizens are Sergio Aguero (2013-14 and 2014-15), Ilkay Gundogan (2017-18) and Raheem Sterling (2017-18).

    Foden netted his 25th goal of the campaign across all competitions in City's 4-0 rout of Fulham on Saturday, and the Player of the Season candidate will play a key role here.

    MATCH PREDICTION – MANCHESTER CITY WIN

    Arsenal supporters may not feel great about having to cheer on their old rivals, but history suggests Tottenham have a chance of providing a twist in the title race – regardless of how their own fans feel about that prospect.

    Indeed, City have lost more Premier League games against Tottenham under Guardiola (six), than they have against any other side.

    The champions, however, are in ominous form, going unbeaten through their last 21 Premier League matches (17 wins, four draws). 

    Only once have they enjoyed a longer run in the competition, going 30 without losing between April 2017 and January 2018.

    They have also won their last four away league games, the last three of them by an aggregate score of 10-0. Only once in their league history have they won four in a row on the road without conceding, doing so as a second-tier club between March and April 1903.

    Regardless of their terrible record on this ground, it is difficult to see the champions slipping up.

    OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

    Tottenham – 20.1%

    Manchester City – 54.8%

    Draw – 25.1%

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