Is Gabardiol set to become the world's most expensive defender?

 Is Gabardiol set to become the world's most expensive defender?

Iosko Gabardiol(Getty)

Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola likes him. He wants to have him in his own team. Guardiola has shown interest in several players, but very few have been able to be bought. The chances of Iosko Gabardiol joining Manchester City from the new season are very strong. However, it will also require a considerable expense for City. The current club of Gabardiol, RB Leipzig, has already made an offer to City. But RB Leipzig is not willing to let go of the Croatian center-back so easily. They are not ready to sell the 21-year-old defender for less than 10 million euros.

If Manchester City has to pay that amount until the end, then Gabriel Dias will become the most expensive defender in football history. Currently, the most expensive defender is Manchester United's Harry Maguire, who was bought by Old Trafford Club from Leicester City for 80 million euros in the 2019-20 season.

Sky Sports journalist Philip Hinge's tweet has revealed that Manchester City has offered a final bid of 90 million euros for Gabriel Dias. City has already taken care of the personal terms of the contract with Dias. Now, the agreement between the two clubs needs to be reached for the transfer to be finalized.

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However, Gabriel Dias' current contract with Leipzig runs until June 2027. Leipzig has set a release clause of 110 million euros for this defender, but it will come into effect from June next year. It means that after June of the upcoming year, any club can buy him for that amount of money. However, City wants to acquire Gabriel Dias this season. That's why they are negotiating with Leipzig for a transfer fee. There is speculation that Leipzig is not willing to sell him for less than 100 million euros. In the end, City may have to pay that amount to acquire him.

Gabriel Dias, who emerged in Dynamo Zagreb's senior team, gained attention from top European clubs soon after joining the main squad in 2019. His solidity in defense attracted the interest of major clubs in Europe. At the age of just 18 in 2020, Leipzig signed him for 18 million euros. The initial contract was for five years. Gabriel Dias spent the remaining time of the 2020-21 season with Dynamo Zagreb before joining Leipzig in 2021. Within a few days, he became one of the most sought-after defenders in the world. Leipzig renewed his contract with him the following year, extending it until 2027.

Leipzig bought him for 18 million euros, but now they are looking to sell him for 100 million euros. It is difficult to argue that Gabriel Dias is not worth this price, as most people would agree.