Barcelona working on deal for Josko Gvardiol as Manchester City defender weighs options

Barcelona are working on a deal to sign Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol, according to a report from Cadena Cope, as the Catalan club continue an active summer transfer window that has already seen them agree a fee of around €80m with Newcastle United for Anthony Gordon.

Gvardiol, 22, has two years remaining on his Manchester City contract, which runs until 2028 — contrary to an initial claim in the Cadena Cope report that suggested only one year was left. It has also been reported elsewhere that the approach is an offer made to Barcelona rather than a pursuit initiated by the club itself, suggesting Gvardiol’s camp may be sounding out potential destinations.

Barcelona had previously been linked with Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni as their primary defensive target, but interest in the Italian appears to have cooled. Early reports connecting Barcelona to Bastoni had also flagged Gvardiol as a player who impressed the club’s scouts, though he was considered too expensive at the time.

Real Madrid have also been linked with Gvardiol in recent weeks, reportedly offered the chance to sign the Croatia international as well. With no contract renewal talks understood to be imminent at City, Gvardiol appears to be weighing his options ahead of what could be a significant summer. A central defensive signing is considered a priority for Real Madrid, though Barcelona have also identified the position as an area of need.

Gvardiol joined Manchester City in the summer of 2023 for €90m after two seasons at RB Leipzig, where he had arrived from Dinamo Zagreb for €36.8m in 2021. In three seasons at the Etihad, he has made 122 appearances under Pep Guardiola, contributing 13 goals and 10 assists while operating across both centre-back and left-back roles.