Arsenal ‘interested’ in Man City star as ‘£86m deal’ close with ‘personal terms agreed’

Things are never quiet on the transfer front when it comes to Manchester City and it now looks like their next big signing could potentially have a ripple effect throughout the Premier League and next season’s title race.

The Premier League champions are said to be in ‘advanced talks’ with RB Leipzig defender Joško Gvardiol, the 21-year old Croatian international who is widely considered one of the very best young defenders in the world. Max Eberl, sporting director for the Bundesliga club, told German outlet LVZ: “I can confirm that Joško Gvardiol and agents told us about their desire to move to Manchester City. We are in talks with Manchester. That’s all there is to say at the moment.”

However, Italian journalist and ‘transfer guru’ Fabrizio Romano has stated that personal terms have been agreed between City and the player and several British news outlets are claiming that a deal is close. As is always the case when a new, big money arrival joins up with a club it could potentially spell the end for another player as his spot in the team is taken.

Per reports coming out of Spain this morning, that player could very well be Aymeric Laporte who is being linked with a return to previous club Athletic Bilbao. Crucially, it is claimed that the 29-year old ‘has not received any proposal or call to sit down to negotiate’ from the La Liga club and that could leave the door open for a shock move to City’s title rivals Arsenal.

The Gunners are credited with an interest in Laporte in the same article along with Italian giants Juventus with interest in his signature obviously high. Having been at the Etihad Stadium since 2018, the defender worked under Arteta for a season before the Arsenal gaffer left his position as assistant manager to Pep Guardiola and that pre-existing relationship could be useful if they do indeed decide to pursue a move.