Josko Gvardiol has already made clear his wish to play in the Premier League, as a move to Manchester City edges closer.
On Sunday RB Leipzig sporting director, Max Eberl, confirmed the defender's intention to sign for City in the current transfer window. Pep Guardiola's side stepped up their interest in the player after winning the Champions League - and a successful deal for the Croatia international now looks a matter of time.
The 21-year-old is likely to become the most expensive defender in the world, with Leipzig's asking price at £86million. The defender signed for the Bundesliga team in 2020, from Dinamo Zagreb. Having played 41 games in all competitions last season, a chance to test himself in the English top flight is just what the player wants.
Also read: City handed major Gvardiol boost
Speaking to The Times back in February, Gvardiol said: "I had two options, between Leeds and Leipzig. (Marcelo) Bielsa was the coach and I don’t know if you know this, but my goal in my career is to play in the Premier League. I knew that I needed to take a few steps more before I get (there) one day.
"At the end Leipzig, is a really good club and I feel good here. It’s important I play almost every game. I am very grateful to Dani Olmo because he was here and I spoke with him a lot of times before I decided to sign."
A move to Chelsea never materialised last summer, and that left the player somewhat frustrated at the time.
He continued: "I was really confused, because one month before the window starts I was upstairs with the sporting director and he says: 'Yeah Josko, we are not going to sell you, we need you, we believe in you'.
"And I was like 'Ok I am fine with this, I can stay here, I like it here, all I need is to work on myself, to play, to win something else'. It was like this, until the last two days. My agent called me and said that Chelsea is extremely interested and, of course, you definitely think about a serious offer from a huge club like Chelsea.
"Leipzig said they didn’t want to sell me. In the end I really struggled with that decision but we didn’t make an agreement. It is what it is. I am here and I am fine with this because my idea had been to stay here. One season was not enough. This is my second season, even one more season would be great but we will see."
