Josko Gvardiol under City’s Radar! Big signing coming up

According to Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor, the potential signing of Josko Gvardiol by Manchester City would be “frightening” and a significant boost to Pep Guardiola’s defensive options. The Croatian center-back has reportedly expressed his desire to leave RB Leipzig and join Manchester City, which could increase the chances of the transfer materializing this summer.

Attention since the City’s treble win has been immense for the Manchester club, with fans already looking forward to the upcoming season. Trusted retail ticket reseller platforms are already seeing a demand for tickets. According to Seatsnet.com, the filter for Manchester City is already experiencing traffic “like it was an ordinary Premier League week.”

And now, with reinforcements coming, seatsnet.com believes the demand will continue to rise. 

Leipzig is said to be open to Gvardiol’s departure if they receive a bid of £78 million, with potential bonuses that could take the deal to £85 million. Talks between the two clubs are progressing well, and influential transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Guardiola has already agreed to personal terms with Manchester City. The negotiations will enter an advanced stage soon.

Ryan Taylor believes that Gvardiol would seamlessly fit into Guardiola’s tactical system, particularly in deploying a back three formation, which the Catalan coach utilized towards the end of last season. Gvardiol’s skill set as a ball-playing center-back and his ability to defend effectively makes him an attractive prospect for Guardiola. 

Taylor highlights Gvardiol’s impressive performances for the Croatian national team, showcasing his defensive capabilities even when facing challenging situations.

Signing Gvardiol would be a significant move for Manchester City as they look to maintain their high standards and build upon their exceptional treble-winning campaign last season. The 21-year-old defender made 43 appearances for Leipzig, demonstrating his ability to contribute offensively by scoring three goals. He played a vital role in Leipzig’s third-place finish in the Bundesliga.

Moreover, Gvardiol’s passing ability stands out compared to his positional peers across Europe’s major leagues and continental competitions. He ranks in the top 1% of center-backs for passes attempted per 90 minutes last year, emphasizing his composure and proficiency on the ball.

Overall, the potential acquisition of Josko Gvardiol represents an exciting prospect for Manchester City. Guardiola would gain a highly talented and promising center-back who could provide long-term stability and quality to their defensive line.

Rice will not be a City player 

Manchester City’s transfer priorities have taken a new turn as they have missed out on signing Declan Rice, who is reportedly set to join Arsenal in a record-breaking deal. City bid for Rice but refused to match Arsenal’s subsequent offer, which exceeded £100 million. 

The club has a firm stance of not overpaying for players or getting involved in bidding wars, and they have walked away from significant deals in the past. This approach indicates that they are willing to do so again.

Seatsnet.com has also closely followed Declan Rice throughout his stint at West Ham, and it is safe to say that his presence and playing style deeply impacted getting fans back to the Hammers’ stadium. In contrast to the previous seasons, West Ham had an increase in ticket demand, and their Europa Conference League final helped their ticket sales increase. 

The final was a sell-out, and fans were hovering around seatsnet.com for last-minute ticket deals to watch West Ham win their first silverware in three decades. 

However, this means that City may go into the next season with their current midfield options, potentially leaving critical positions with a shortage of players. In previous instances when they walked away from deals, such as with Harry Maguire for £80 million, Harry Kane for £150 million, or Marc Cucurella for £60 million, it left them light in those positions. Even without Rice, bringing Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea would cover the outgoing Ilkay Gundogan, ensuring they are not worse off.

Meanwhile, Manchester City has reportedly entered the race to sign Celta Vigo midfielder Gabri Veiga alongside Chelsea and Liverpool. Despite already acquiring Kovacic, Pep Guardiola will be interested in signing the versatile Veiga, who can operate as both a number six and number eight. Veiga has a release clause of €40 million (£34.6 million) in his contract with Celta Vigo. In the recent La Liga season, he scored 11 goals and provided four assists in 36 appearances. Celta Vigo has been the only club he has played for.

Mateo Kovacic is a Citiyzen

Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic has completed a move to Manchester City in a £30 million deal. The Croatian midfielder, who spent the last five years at Stamford Bridge, joined Chelsea from Real Madrid in 2018. During his time at Chelsea, Kovacic won four trophies, including the 2021 Champions League, where they beat Manchester City in the final. He made 221 appearances for Chelsea before making the move to Manchester City.

Kovacic will wear the No. 8 shirt recently vacated by Ilkay Gundogan, who joined Barcelona. The 29-year-old was excited about joining Manchester City, praising the team and their manager, Pep Guardiola. He described them as the best in the world and the best footballing side. Kovacic looks forward to starting his journey with City and contributing to their success.

City Boss loses his assistant 

Pep Guardiola has suffered a significant blow to his coaching staff following the club’s historic treble-winning season. His trusted assistant, Rodolfo Borrell, has decided to leave the club and pursue a new opportunity in Major League Soccer (MLS) with Austin FC.

Borrell has been an integral part of Manchester City for the past nine years, initially joining as the academy technical director before being promoted to the first-team assistant when Guardiola arrived in 2016. He has played a vital role in the club’s success, including five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and the recent achievement of winning the UEFA Champions League.

The Champions League triumph in Istanbul will be the final chapter in Borrell and Guardiola’s fruitful partnership. The 1-0 victory over Inter Milan in the final marked the culmination of their success together.

Borrell is set to embark on a new challenge as he takes on the sporting director role at Austin FC in MLS. This will be his first experience as a sporting director, adding another dimension to his already illustrious career. It is worth noting that Borrell’s managerial experience at the senior level is limited, with his only previous stint coming at the Greek club Iraklis in 2008.

Austin FC, currently positioned eighth in the Western Conference standings, will benefit from Borrell’s vast experience and knowledge from working with various European giants. His appointment follows the departure of Claudio Reyna, a former Manchester City, Sunderland, and Rangers midfielder, who transitioned to a technical advisory role within the franchise.

As Borrell settles into his new position, he will use his expertise to guide Austin FC towards a successful second half of the season and secure a spot in the MLS Cup playoffs. With his wealth of knowledge and experience, Borrell will be a valuable asset as the team strives for further success in the league. 

Seatsnet.com has options for the Manchester City friendlies already listed for anyone wishing to glimpse the treble winners before the league starts.