Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has the necessary resources at his disposal to cause an almight upset among the Manchester City ranks this summer, by scuppering a world record £85m transfer which has been going through the motions for several weeks.
The Reds are expected to make initial overtures during the summer transfer window to line up a defender with intimidating aim of eventually replacing club icon Virgil van Dijk.
And one player who has been first and foremost at the head of every discussion has been RB Leipzig’s Croatia international Josko Gvardiol, who is regarded as one of the top emerging defenders on the planet.
The youngster greatly impressed at last year’s Qatar World Cup, while his performances in the Champions League have been gaining admirers throughout Europe.
In recent weeks City boss Pep Guardiola and his side have been locked in conversations with Leipzig, who are reportedly holding out for the full £85m of Gvardiol’s release clause to be paid in one hit. It would be a world record transfer for a defender, topping the £80m that Manchester United paid Leicester City for Harry Maguire.
According to Germany football expert Christian Falk, reporting via Caughtoffside, a stalemate has ensued as Leipzig are hoping to first identify a suitable replacement, while City are understood to be haggling on the price in hope of reduced terms.
An unsettling silence has therefore emerged, and it may well allow Liverpool to strike at the most opportune moment, predominantly due to Klopp holding a trump card in the form of Joe Gomez.
Gomez, who recently turned 26, has spent the past few seasons flitting between being a first team regular for the Reds and also occupying the substitutes’ bench for long period.
His impeccable understanding with Van Dijk drew huge praise from Klopp, though the rigours of Premier League football have led to several injuries and thus stunted the progress of the England international as a result.
With one eye on the upcoming European Championships, Gomez – who has been observed by Leipzig scouts on previous occasions – may well find a move to the Bundesliga highly beneficial.
Such an offering from Liverpool would go some way to hijacking control of the Gvardiol situation, in that Leipzig can be awarded a ready-made replacement for the Croatian while also receiving a transfer fee alongside to offset the price.
Quotes from Gvardiol several years ago, given to RTLDanas during an interview, have boosted Liverpool hopes that the youngster will at some point finally arrive at Anfield.
When asked of an ideal club to play for when at the peak of his powers, Gvardiol replied: “My dream club? That would definitely be Liverpool.
“Since I was little, I watched a lot of their matches with my dad. We covered every season in detail. It is a club that has remained in my heart.”
Gvardiol has however always maintained a respectful tone when talking about potential transfers and an exit from Leipzig.
It is understood that the German giants are unwilling to part with the defender this summer unless his release clause is met and paid in a single instalment.
Leipzig are expected to be more receptive to bids in the summer transfer window of 2024, at which point Klopp and Liverpool are poised to lose club stalwart Joel Matip following the expiration of his current contract.
Whether the Reds pull the trigger this summer and thwart City remains to be seen. Yet all things point to the risk being one very much worth taking.
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