Man City eye Aymeric Laporte transfer replacement if Spanish international asks to leave Premier League champions
MANCHESTER CITY are eyeing up a move for Josko Gvardiol if Aymeric Laporte leaves this summer, according to reports.
The Croatian centre-back has impressed for RB Leipzig this term.
He also performed well for his country at the World Cup in Qatar, attracting plenty of interest from would-be suitors.
SunSport reported last month that Gvardiol would be high on City's wishlist this summer, should they lose a centre-back.
And now claim that a swoop for the 21-year-old could be imminent, with Laporte open to leaving the Etihad this summer.
Gvardiol penned a contract extension to June 2027 last September, putting RB Leipzig in a strong bargaining position.
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The Bundesliga side have already seen key men Christopher Nkunku and Konrad Laimer depart for Chelsea and Bayern Munich respectively this summer.
And in order to let Gvardiol go, they would demand at least £85million.
Laporte, 29, has two years remaining on his City contract - but Pep Guardiola's men won't let him go on the cheap.
He has been linked with Barcelona and Tottenham so far this summer.
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The France-born ace joined Man City from Athletic Bilbao for £57m in January 2018.
He has gone on to make 179 appearances for City, winning five Prem titles, two FA Cups, three League Cups and the Champions League.
Laporte was limited to just 11 league starts last season, after falling behind the likes of Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, John Stones and Manuel Akanji in Guardiola's pecking order.
Following City's Prem title triumph he was spotted in floods of tears -prompting speculation that he would be leaving the club this summer.