Josko Gvardiol has emerged as one of the most sought-after defenders in this summer’s transfer window, attracting interest from Europe’s biggest clubs.
The Croatian centre-back is reportedly open to leaving Manchester City and is pushing for a departure, according to sources who confirmed the situation.
City originally paid €90 million to RB Leipzig for Gvardiol, but effective negotiation tactics could see any transfer fee drop to around €75 million.
Gvardiol is currently under contract with Manchester City until 2028, making any potential deal a significant financial undertaking for interested parties.
Bayern Munich are considered serious contenders for his signature, with sporting director Max Eberl sharing a previous working relationship with the defender at RB Leipzig.
For Bayern to complete the deal, the club would first need to move on one of its existing defenders, with Hiroki Ito or Min-jae Kim among those who could potentially depart.
Manchester City have also been pushing to extend Gvardiol’s contract, adding further complexity to a transfer situation that is evolving rapidly.
Negotiations over a new deal at City have stalled, which has prompted Gvardiol’s agents to begin exploring alternative destinations for their client.
Uncertainty surrounding Pep Guardiola’s own future at the club has further unsettled several players, with Gvardiol among those weighing up their options carefully.
Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and Barcelona are all monitoring the defender’s situation, though Real Madrid have reiterated that he is not currently considered a priority target.
Despite the Spanish giants’ cautious stance, the sheer volume of interest from elite European clubs is intensifying competition and could drive significant movement in the coming weeks.
A potential deal in the €75 million range would position Gvardiol as one of the headline defensive transfers of the summer transfer window.
