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Barcelona has reportedly joined Bayern Munich in tracking Manchester City defender Joško Gvardiol ahead of a possible summer move.
Barcelona appears ready for another transfer battle with Bayern Munich.
According to reports from Spain, the Catalan club has identified Joško Gvardiol as one of its preferred defensive targets ahead of the summer window.
The Manchester City defender reportedly fits perfectly into the profile wanted by coach Hansi Flick because of one important quality.
Versatility.
The Croatian international operates comfortably both as a central defender and at left-back, giving Barcelona multiple tactical options.
His situation is attracting attention because change could be coming at City.
Following the departure of Pep Guardiola, reports suggest Manchester City could enter a period of squad restructuring, with several established names linked with exits.
Gvardiol arrived from RB Leipzig in 2023 in a deal worth around €90 million.
Since then, he established himself as one of City’s most reliable defenders.
His numbers underline his influence:
• 122 appearances
• 13 goals
• 10 assists
The season was not completely straightforward.
A broken tibia interrupted his campaign and required surgery, although he returned before the end of the season and is now expected to feature for Croatia at the upcoming World Cup.
Bayern Munich remains a serious competitor.
The German champions have tracked Gvardiol for years and sporting director Max Eberl knows him particularly well from their time together at Leipzig.
Barcelona’s interest creates another high-profile battle between two European giants.
The biggest question remains whether Manchester City is prepared to sell one of the foundations of its defence.