From Germany: Josko Gvardiol targets summer Manchester City exit | OneFootball

Remarkable new reports from German media are claiming that Josko Gvardiol is eyeing an exit from Manchester City this summer, with Bayern Munich an interested party.

The new transfer development adds further administrative chaos to an already turbulent week at the City Football Academy, just 24 hours after Manchester City officially surrendered in the Premier League race to Arsenal following a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth.

Those events stand alongside the ongoing doubts regarding Pep Guardiola‘s future, with the Catalan locked in immediate talks with Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak regarding whether he will leave the club after Sunday’s Premier League finale against Aston Villa.

Josko Gvardiol’s reported unsettled status comes as a surprise to many given his consistent development into a versatile asset at Manchester City, with Sporting Director Hugo Viana already tasked with navigating an intensive summer refresh including the high-profile departures of Bernardo Silva and John Stones.

If the 24-year-old Croatian defender actively attempts to force a transfer window exit, it could radically alter Manchester City’s defensive recruitment plans and demand immediate contingency action before pre-season begins.

Josko Gvardiol uncertainty amid Bayern interest

Now, according to SPORT1, Josko Gvardiol can ‘imagine’ a move away from the Etihad Stadium this summer, and is even ‘trying to force’ an exit from Manchester City.

The Croatia international is ‘known to be a big fan’ of Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich and was already on the Bavarian club’s transfer shortlist during his time at RB Leipzig, prior to moving to England.

However, it is stated that Vincent Kompany’s side are ‘likely to be deterred primarily by’ a potential transfer fee of around €90 million, while negotiation could bring that sum down to around €75 million.

What could this mean for Man City?

The financial parameters outlined by the German press set the stage for an intense saga between two European heavyweights, with Manchester City likely to be completely unwilling to register any financial loss on a player whose peak years are still ahead of him.

With Vincent Kompany eager to refresh his Bayern squad after winning the Bundesliga title once again, the Allianz Arena hierarchy must decide if they can realistically meet Manchester City’s rigid demands without affecting their own financial structure.

Much may yet depend on who assumes technical control at the Etihad Stadium over the coming days, with Enzo Maresca believed to be finalising a heavily rumoured transition to succeed Pep Guardiola.

The Italian coach will likely want to sit down with players, including Josko Gvardiol, to assess their commitment to the club’s future project, although it remains to be seen how soon such talks could take place given the upcoming FIFA World Cup in North America.