Manchester City strengthened their defense by signing Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig and are now seeking to unload Aymeric Laporte.
Manchester City will attempt to offload Aymeric Laporte after signing Croatian centre-back Josko Gvardiol for £77 million.
Gvardiol, 21, has agreed to a five-year contract worth £130,000 per week with the Premier League champions after the club was able to negotiate a £10 million decrease in RB Leipzig’s initial asking price.
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With his arrival, City will attempt to offload Laporte, a 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 joining from Athletic Bilbao for £57 million.
Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, and Aston Villa have all been keeping an eye on Laporte’s status at Manchester City since Pep Guardiola began playing Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji on the left side of his defense last season.
City would want to trade the defender to a foreign club and value him at £30 million. Erling Haaland scored five goals in City’s 7-0 Champions League devastation of Leipzig last season, Gvardiol’s sole outing at the Etihad.
Guardiola, on the other hand, has long admired the left-footed kid, who helped his country finish third at the World Cup in Qatar. Following the £30 million signing of Gvardiol’s international teammate Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea, he becomes City’s second summer signing.
“I have always dreamed of one day playing in England, and to be doing so now with Manchester City – after the season they just had – is a real honor for me,” Gvardiol stated.
“Anyone who watched Manchester City play last season understands they are the best team in the world.” To win the Triple Crown tells everything about the caliber of this team.
“Being a part of City is something very special for me and my family.” Working with Pep Guardiola would be a dream come true for me. I know I’m not quite there yet, but I’m confident my game will improve under the best coach in football.
“It will also be special to collaborate with Mateo Kovai.” He’s a fantastic footballer, and I hope we can both contribute to City having another good season in 2023-24 and beyond.”
