Bayern Munich transfer interest in Manchester City defender confirmed | OneFootball

Manchester City could be set for a fight to retain Josko Gvardiol this summer, amid transfer interest from Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.

Amid expected confirmation of Enzo Maresca arriving on a three-year deal as the club’s new manager, the Italian tactician and Sporting Director Hugo Viana have already started auditing the first-team playing squad.

City wrapped up their 2025/26 campaign by clinching a domestic cup double, but losing the Premier League crown to Arsenal, triggering a desire to protect the squad’s world-class pillars before the summer transfer market opens for another year in mid-June.

The defensive infrastructure in East Manchester is already facing significant change following the finalised departure of John Stones, and uncertainty facing Nathan Ake considering his age and contractual situation.

Gvardiol’s exceptional evolution into a goal-scoring left-back over the 2024/25 season made him one of the most uniquely valuable assets in world football, meaning any attempt to lure him away from the North-West of England would be met with fierce resistance.

Bundesliga interest in Josko Gvardiol

Now, according to the information of The Athletic’s Sam Lee, Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich – managed by Manchester City legend Vincent Kompany – hold ‘some interest’ in the Etihad Stadium central defender, Josko Gvardiol.

Concrete interest from Allianz Arena decision-makers sets up an intriguing picture just days before the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in North America, with Kompany seemingly looking to bolster his backline after some struggles in the Champions League’s latter stages.

How will Man City respond to Gvardiol interest?

Due to Manchester City tying Gvardiol down to a lucrative, long-term contract running until 2028 upon his initial £77.6 million arrival from RB Leipzig, the English giants are under no pressure to capitulate to inquiries.

Hugo Viana will continue to target a fresh renewal of Gvardiol’s contract, viewing the Croatian as indispensable to Enzo Maresca’s incoming blueprint, which is scheduled to undergo its first pre-season testing in July.

Barring an astronomical financial package that perhaps eclipses the current market ceiling for defenders, Manchester City are likely to expect the 24-year-old to line up in sky blue when the 2026/27 campaign kicks off in the Premier League once again on the weekend of Saturday, 22 August, 2026.