Paul Robinson claims that if Pep Guardiola decides to sign Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig for a sizable sum in 2023, a key Manchester City defensive star may leave the team.
City, along with Manchester United, Chelsea, and Tottenham, have all targeted the Croatia center-back after his superb performances at the World Cup in Qatar.
It’s claimed that City, United, and Chelsea are all willing to pay in excess of £ 80 million to sign the 20-year-old. However, that sort of figure is likely to prove too steep for Spurs chief Daniel Levy.
But Robinson, speaking to Football Insider, believes that keeping all the existing center-halves happy ‘will be a major concern’ if Gvardiol signs up.
Pep Guardiola currently has John Stones, Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, Aymeric Laporte, and Nathan Ake at his disposal.
Guardiola’s signing could put noses out of joint
And when asked by Football Insider if Gvardiol’s potential arrival would change the landscape at the Etihad, Robinson said: “It would be a lot of center-halves to have.
“Every one of those has got a mistake in them though. It does not seem like Pep Guardiola has a settled center-half partnership that he wants to play week in, week out.
“One of them might make way if Gvardiol comes in. Ake brings pace and athleticism and he can play at left-back so maybe he would stay.
“Nathan Ake has got a bit more game time this season for Man City. He looks like a better player for the country than the club though. He looks more comfortable playing in a three.
“Look, City can afford to amass top-class players so long as they can keep them all happy. That will be a major concern.”
The city is back in action on December 22 when they face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup last 16. Their next Premier League outing is against Leeds on December 28.
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