Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that the club is close to finalizing a deal for RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol. The Croatian defender is currently in Manchester undergoing a medical, and an official announcement is expected soon. Guardiola also expressed his hope to keep Kyle Walker and Bernardo Silva at the club despite transfer speculation surrounding them.
The transfer fee for Gvardiol is reported to be £77 million, making him the second-most expensive defender in Premier League history, behind Manchester United’s Harry Maguire. While Guardiola did not provide details about Gvardiol’s qualities as a player, he praised the beauty of his surname and confirmed that the deal is close to completion.
Regarding Walker and Silva, Guardiola emphasized their importance to the team and expressed his desire for them to stay at Manchester City. He acknowledged the difficulty of replacing these two players and stated that the club will do everything possible to retain them. Both players have existing contracts with the club, and Guardiola hopes they will choose to remain at the Etihad.
Guardiola also addressed the rumors of Barcelona’s interest in Silva. He clarified that he only wants players who are committed to being at the club and working with the staff and players. However, he mentioned that no proper offer has been received from Barcelona yet. Guardiola emphasized that Walker and Silva are crucial players for Manchester City, and any potential offers would need to be discussed with the club’s sports director and CEO.
The manager highlighted the importance of keeping key players like Walker and Silva, especially after losing Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez. He acknowledged the significant contributions of these players in terms of goals, assists, and their presence in important games. Guardiola reiterated that Manchester City wants to keep Walker and Silva and will fight to extend their contracts.
In terms of potential replacements for Walker, Guardiola dismissed rumors linking Manchester United target Benjamin Pavard to the club. He stated that there is no interest in signing the player and emphasized that Manchester City knows where he wants to go, implying that he is not a target for the club.
Overall, Guardiola’s comments indicate Manchester City’s determination to retain key players and strengthen their squad for the upcoming season. The imminent signing of Gvardiol showcases the club’s ambition to bolster their defense. As the transfer window progresses, fans will eagerly await further developments regarding Walker and Silva’s futures at Manchester City.
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