Manchester City hold initial talks to sign £90 million-rated Chelsea target

Manchester City have opened talks with RB Leipzig about signing Josko Gvardiol, who has also been linked with Chelsea, according to Football Insider.

Citizens have won the English Premier League and the FA Cup and are one win away from the continental treble. They will be eager to end their long wait to win the Champions League when they take on Inter Milan in the final in Istanbul on Saturday (10 June).

Meanwhile, Manchester City is watching next season as well, with efforts to strengthen its team in full swing. The English champions could pay a large amount of money to sign a new defender after Aymeric Laporte questioned his future at the club.

Laporte, whose contract runs until 2025, has started just 20 matches across City’s competition this season. The Spaniard wants to play more regularly and is therefore seeking a move away from the club this summer.

Should Laporte be forced out, it appears City have already drawn up a plan B. And it appeared earlier this week that coach Pep Guardiola’s team is preparing to intensify its efforts to sign Leipzig defender Gvardiol.

The Manchester giants have started talks with the Bundesliga club over a deal with the Croatian, according to the aforementioned source. Gvardiol has been identified as the top target for the Cityzens’ treble-chase in the summer.

Chelsea were reportedly on the verge of signing Guardiol last summer but were unable to secure a deal with Leipzig. The Blues remain interested in the 21-year-old’s services, according to 90 Minutes.

However, Chelsea may have to end their interest in Gvardiol, with Citizens reportedly confident of reaching an agreement with Leipzig. The defender has a £100m release clause in his contract, but the Bundesliga club could sell him for a figure closer to £90m.

Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic agrees personal terms with Manchester City

Chelsea need to sell players to balance their books after spending more than £600m over the last two transfer windows. Mateo Kovacic, who is set to enter the final year of his contract, is among the players they want to sell to raise money.

Manchester City are widely reported to be interested in signing Kovacic amid uncertainty over Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva’s future at the club. According to Fabrizio Romano, Citizens have agreed personal terms with the midfielder. The Croatian international gave the go-ahead for the move.

Guardiola’s side are now expected to build on their interest in Kovacic after the Champions League final. Having agreed personal terms with the former Real Madrid player, they will turn their attention towards an agreement with Chelsea.

The Premier League champions have also been linked with Mason Mount at the Blues. However, the England international is leaning towards a move to Manchester United, according to The Athletic.