Transfer Talk: Man City want £85m Gvardiol in defensive reshuffle

Manchester City are interested in signing Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig this summer.

Aymeric Laporte is likely to leave and the Croatian international is on the shortlist to replace him — but it will cost £85million to bring to the Etihad Stadium, according to The Daily Mail. 

Gvardiol is considered one of the best young defenders in world football and was a crucial part of Croatia's third-place finish at the World Cup last year.

He has also made 40 appearances for RB Leipzig this season and scored against City in the Champions League in February.

The 21-year-old came through the ranks at Dinamo Zagreb before Leipzig paid nearly £20m to bring him to Germany.

And now Pep Guardiola wants to ensure that City benefit from Gvardiol's peak years.

The Citizens are on the verge of completing a historic Treble, with the Premier League title likely to be wrapped up this weekend, but there are doubts surrounding the future of several first-team players.

Laporte has been out of favour this season, while Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva could both leave this summer.

If either were to depart, a midfielder would also be on Guardiola's shopping list.

In other news

Tottenham have emerged as a surprise potential destination for Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, report The Sun.

The Mail write that Ruben Loftus-Cheek could be set to follow in the footsteps of Fikayo Tomori by leaving Chelsea for AC Milan.

Lionel Messi warned Barcelona not to re-sign midfielder Xavi Simons, according to The Mirror, with Arsenal the likeliest destination for the Dutchman.