Manchester City won everything there is to win last season, so what exactly can Guardiola improve? Certainly, not his attacking line. Norwegian goalscoring genius Erling Haaland has been a monster in front of goal while Jack Grealish and Phil Foden promise support on the wings.
At the center of the park, we have fan-favorite Kevin De Bruyne partnering up with Rodri and new singing Mateo Kovacic, so there should be no issues with Manchester City’s display there.
However, there’s always something to improve. That’s coach Pep Guardiola’s motto. It seems that Manchester City’s watertight defense isn’t as convincing as the Spanish manager would like it to be, so changes are definitely approaching, with Josko Gvardiol’s name being the one connected with a possible move to Etihad Stadium.
Citizens Prepare a Shocking Bid for Josko Gvardiol
It seems that Manchester City’s board will spare no expense to snap up much-admired Gvardiol this season. Rumors have it that the Citizens are preparing a sensational £86m bid for the Red Bull Leipzig’s superstar.
According to multiple sources, the offer includes £77m plus an additional £9m in add-ons. Would this deal prove enough for the Bulls to part ways with Croatian superstar Gvardiol? We certainly think the German side’s board might get tempted to accept, as not often do they get such financially impressive offers for one of their players.
If accepted, this deal will make Josko Gvardiol the most expensive defender in football’s history. One might fear that the pressure to prove his worth would put a damper on Gvardiol’s display with the Citizens’ jersey. However, he proved on multiple occasions that he’s not one that usually cracks when challenged.
Reasons Why Manchester City Should Sign Gvardiol
Where do we even start? First of all, it seems that Kyle Walker’s desire to boost Bavarian giants Bayern Munich’s ranks isn’t going to go away. Walker’s contribution to how Manchester City defend is well-known and if he truly parts ways with the Citizens, then this could mean trouble for Pep Guardiola.
However, the Kyle Walker-shaped hole at the back could be potentially filled with 21-year-old Croatian Gvardiol, as the Red Bull Leipzig player is no stranger to playing a left-back position.
Also, we shouldn’t underestimate just how important Ilkay Gundogan was for coach Guardiola’s side over the last couple of seasons. The German midfielder did beautifully to score some vital goals, yes, but he was also a rock at the center of the park. Now that he’s gone, there’ll surely be more pressure on Manchester City’s defenders. And that’s another reason why a quality defender such as Gvardiol might play a key role for the Citizens this season.
Last, but certainly not least, we should talk about how vital Josko Gvardiol was for Croatia in the Qatar World Cup last year. His unyielding character proved decisive, as the European team reached the semi-finals where the Croatians, sadly, got thrashed 3-0 by future champions Argentina.
La Albiceleste proved a hard nut to crack, as Lionel Messi’s sensational dribbling skills humiliated Gvardiol on multiple occasions. However, there’s no shame in getting bested by one of the best players in history, so we believe Josko Gvardiol has only learned from this game.
At the young age of 21, Josko Gvardiol has the maturity of a seasoned defender, which is surely something Manchester City’s squad needs right now.
