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Chelsea are "very keen" on Crystal Palace star Michael Olise, who could have a "mechanism" in his contract that could allow them to get the deal done, claims journalist Alex Crook.

Is Michael Olise joining Chelsea this summer?

It's been another all-hands-on-deck kind of transfer window for the blue side of West London this summer. Granted, a lot of the activity initially focused on shipping out practically an entire squad of first-team players, but attention has undoubtedly turned to incomings now.

The most significant signings Mauricio Pochettino's new side have made so far this window include the young striker Nicolas Jackson, who joined the club from Villarreal in a deal worth £30m, French defender Axel Disasi, who joined from AS Monaco for £39m and Christopher Nkunku who joined from RB Leipzig for £52m – albeit this deal was agreed in December.

The Pensioners are far from done there, though, and with another month of the window to go, they will likely welcome at least a few more new faces to Stamford Bridge, one of those potentially being Palace youngster Olise.

Read the latest Chelsea transfer news HERE…

The French under-21 star attracted a lot of attention following a brilliant campaign last season, and the Mirror have reported that both the Blues and City are 'ramping up' their efforts to sign him, efforts that have been slowed somewhat over confusion regarding a potential release clause in his contract.

It was believed that the 21-year-old had a clause in his current deal that would allow him to leave should a side come in with a £35m bid. However, this has now been reported as false, and instead, there is a "mechanism" in his contract akin to Alexis Mac Allister's situation earlier in the window, per Alex Crook.

He explained the situation live on TalkSport, with the clip being posted to their YouTube channel:

"A little bit of confusion around Olise because he's been suggested in some quarters that he has a release clause of £35m, we've been told by Palace that that isn't the case, but I do believe there is a mechanism in his contract similar to what Brighton did with Alexis MacAllister that if a certain offer is made by a certain date, then they will be entitled, Oliise's Camp, to negotiate with the buying club.

"Chelsea and Manchester City both very keen on him, Palace obviously want him to stay."

Would Michael Olise be a good signing?

While the Blues are certainly stacked in the wing positions, signing a player as talented as Palace's "magic" star is for a price potentially as low as £35m seems like an opportunity too good to pass up.

In his 31 Premier League starts last season, he scored two goals, provided 11 assists – more than double the next player in the squad -, won five Man-of-the-Match awards and averaged an impressive match rating of 6.99, per WhoScored.

His underlying numbers are also really quite impressive and paint a picture of a player that could replicate, if not improve, his form at a bigger club if he was given a chance to.

According to FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe's top five leagues, the "brilliant" winger sits in the top 7% for assists, the top 11% for blocks, the top 13% for interceptions, the top 15% for expected assists and tackles, and the top 19% for shot-creating actions, all per 90.

His performances drew praise from former boss Patrick Viera on multiple occasions last season, with the Frenchman lauding the youngster after a game against West Ham United, saying:

"Michael is a top young player with a lot of talent. He didn't do any training with the team in the last ten days, and he just came on and was straight into the squad.

"I was really pleased with the way he came into the game because he created chances, he created situations, and he scored a goal. He showed in the space of 20 minutes his quality, and that's really good for the football club."

If Chelsea can get this deal done and beat City to his signature, it could go a long way in helping Pochettino bring European football back to Stamford Bridge.

Leeds United enjoyed a strong penultimate pre-season clash as Daniel Farke's side beat Premier League outfit Nottingham Forest 2-0 on Thursday night.

Who scored for Leeds against Nottingham Forest?

Winger Ian Poveda and centre-forward Patrick Bamford got themselves on the scoresheet for the Whites at Burton Albion's Pirelli Stadium.

Along with the goals, the German head coach will surely have been pleased with a clean sheet for his team as they showed defensive resilience ahead of the start of the 2023/24 Championship season next month.

Leeds United News writer Danny Bloomer picked out trialist Sam Byram as one of the standout performers for the club at left-back on the night as he rewarded the ex-Norwich Ctiy man with a rating of 7/10.

It has been a busy summer of outward business for Farke as a host of first-team players have made their way out of the door; including right-back Rasmus Kristensen, who has signed for Serie A giants Roma on loan until the end of the season.

Who could replace Rasmus Kristensen at Leeds?

The Whites boss could land a dream replacement for the Denmark international by offering Byram a permanent contract following his trial period, as the English brute has the potential to be an upgrade on him.

Firstly, the ex-Canaries titan would offer far more versatility across the backline. Kristensen has never played more than eight matches outside of right-back or right-midfield in his career.

Whereas, the 29-year-old free-agent has featured in 26 or more matches as a right-back, left-back, and right-midfielder, whilst he also played six times as a centre-back over the last two seasons.

Byram caught the eye in his 15 Championship appearances for the Canaries last season as he averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.85.

The experienced defender won 4.8 duels per match and boasted an impressive success rate of 59%, which shows that he was able to dominate opposition forwards.

Kristensen, on the other hand, averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.70 across 26 Premier League outings for Leeds, which placed him 11th within the squad.

The 26-year-old won 54% of his battles and came out on top in 4.2 of them per game, which shows that the now-Roma battler was not as efficient as the English gem was in his defensive work.

This suggests that the potential is there for Byram to be an upgrade on the former RB Salzburg warrior as a pure defender, due to his strength in individual duels and average performance level – albeit in different leagues.

In possession, the former Yellows ace created 0.5 chances per clash last season in comparison to Kristensen's 0.3 for the Whites, which shows that neither of them are particularly creative as nine Leeds players produced more key passes per game last term.

Farke recently hailed Byram as a "top-class" character and their pre-existing relationship, as the 5 foot 11 dynamo played 20 matches for the German tactician at Carrow Road, could allow the free agent to slot straight into the team as he already knows what the manager wants from him as a left-back or right-back.

Therefore, the ex-Whites academy prospect could be the dream replacement for Kristensen due to the quality and versatility he could provide on the pitch.

Although there are question marks over his fitness, as the strong enforcer never played more than 17 league games in a single season for Norwich, bringing him in on a free is a worthwhile gamble for the club to make.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou wants to sign Juventus centre-back Gleison Bremer "at all costs" this summer, with the manager ready to hand him a leading role in the team, according to a recent report from CalcioMercato.

What's the latest Tottenham transfer news?

Postecoglou has already strengthened his squad considerably in attacking areas this summer, with James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Manor Solomon all agreeing deals with Tottenham, but he is still yet to bring in a new centre-back.

The manager has no shortage of options, with Spurs said to be keen on Manchester United's Harry Maguire, who is also a target for Newcastle United and West Ham United, while they are also interested in signing Galatasaray's Victor Nelsson.

According to reports, the Lilywhites have now made an offer of €15m (£13m) plus Davinson Sanchez for the Galatasaray centre-back, and the Turkish club have accepted that proposal, meaning the Denmark international could soon be on his way to north London.

Postecoglou is keen to bring in a left-sided defender this summer, with Football Insider reporting that Tottenham are targeting two centre-backs, and Bremer features highly on the manager's wanted list.

CalcioMercato now report the Australian wants to sign the Juventus defender "at all costs", and he is ready to carve out a leading role for him in his side's three-man defence in the upcoming campaign.

Juventus would be willing to let the Brazilian leave this summer, should a suitable offer be tabled, and it is thought that a bid of €50m (£43m) will be enough to tempt the Serie A club into sanctioning his departure.

The report makes it clear the Spurs boss is a huge fan of the 26-year-old, but it remains to be seen whether Tottenham are willing to match Juventus' fairly high asking price.

How good is Gleison Bremer?

Italian journalist Carlo Garganese hailed the Brazil international on a number of occasions last season, describing him as a "beast", while also praising him for his positioning, likening him to Thiago Silva in that regard.

Although the 2022-23 campaign ended up being a disappointing season for Juventus, being handed a ten-point deduction which caused them to miss out on the Champions League, the centre-back still managed to put in a string of very impressive performances.

Across the season, the former Torino man averaged a 6.92 WhoScored match rating, the third-highest of any player in the squad, exhibiting his passing ability by averaging a 90.2% pass-success rate, the second-highest among players to start more than one game.

The £154k-per-week defender is dominant in the air, averaging 2.69 aerials won per 90 in the past year, placing him in the 81st percentile compared to his positional peers.

Not only that, the centre-back has also proven himself as a real attacking threat, ranking in the 92nd percentile for non-penalty goals per 90 over the same time period.

At £43m, Bremer would be quite an expensive option for Tottenham, but his performances over the past year indicate he could be a fantastic signing.

Tottenham Hotspur are now targeting Brentford striker Ivan Toney as a potential replacement for Harry Kane, should the 29-year-old leave the club this summer, according to a report from Football Transfers.

What's the latest on Harry Kane's future?

Kane has been attracting the attention of some European giants this summer, with Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain both making their interest clear, however he reportedly has no interest in moving to the French club.

It is detailed that the striker would turn down an approach from PSG, but he may be more open to a move to Bayern, who have already had two bids turned down this summer, with Daniel Levy still insisting on a £100m fee.

Manchester United are now seemingly out of the race, which leaves Tottenham in a straight fight with Bayern, which may sound like good news, however it also means his price will not be driven up significantly as a result of a bidding war.

Spurs have been making contingency plans in case Kane does move to the Bundesliga this summer, with it recently being reported they are eyeing a high-profile move for Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic.

Eintracht Frankfurt's Randal Kolo-Muani has been touted as a potential replacement for the England captain, however the Lilywhites also have their eye on an option from much closer to home.

That is according to a report from Football Transfers, which states that Tottenham have now turned their attention to Toney, in the event that Kane departs this summer.

Spurs are willing to wait until the January transfer window to pursue a move for the Brentford striker, as he is currently serving a football ban which ends on January 16th, due to an eight-month suspension for breaching gambling rules.

The Englishman has previously been recommended to Levy by former Tottenham boss David Pleat, who believed he had the potential to eventually take over the reins from the striker.

There is still a chance Spurs sign the 27-year-old this summer, but that would depend on Kane leaving the club.

How many goals has Ivan Toney scored?

The England international has scored a total of 32 goals in 68 Premier League appearances, and he found the back of the net 21 times in all competitions last season, in what was a fantastic campaign.

Of course, the £21k-per-week Brentford star will be disappointed he will not have the chance to build on such a promising season in the opening stages of the upcoming campaign, as a result of his ban, but it would still be wise for Tottenham to pursue a deal.

Hailed as "sensational" by BBC Sport reporter Simon Stone, the former Northampton Town man has done things the hard way, starting in League Two and eventually establishing himself as one of the most prolific players in the Premier League.

Toney working his way up from the bottom of the EFL system is a sure-fire sign he has the right attitude to make it to the very top, and while the football ban is a setback, he has all the right traits to be back to his best by January.

Arsenal's transfer frenzy shows few signs of slowing down, as the Gunners are reported to be in the running to sign PSV star Xavi Simons this summer.

Dutch outlet ED reported last week that Arsenal are in talks to sign Simons, but the Dutch youngster has no shortage of potential suitors and journalist Paul Brown believes his development could increase tenfold under the stewardship of club captain Martin Odegaard…

How much would Xavi Simons cost?

Should the Gunners see off competition for the Netherlands phenom, they could have the perfect man in the Norway international to help him settle into his new surroundings at the Emirates Stadium.

Speaking to Football FanCast, the reporter said:

"I do think Odegaard has become a really important, quiet leader at Arsenal.

"He leads by example, but he doesn't need to charge around the pitch shouting at people.

"I do think behind the scenes he is capable of being that kind of mentor figure to anyone who comes into the club under any kind of pressure.

"I do think that that could be an important role for him. If someone like [Simons] was coming in he would be able to take him under his wing and help him along. I do think that could be quite important."

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano previously reported that Paris Saint-Germain have the chance to sign Simons for €6m (£5.1m), but that buy-back clause expires on July 31 and the midfielder will have the final say on his future.

Any other interested clubs face having to pay in excess of €50m (£44m), according to some reports in Spain (via Football365), given Simons' status as one of the best talents in European football.

Where would Xavi Simons fit in at Arsenal?

Ironically, it could be Odegaard that Simons eventually replaces in the Arsenal side. The Norway international is still only 24 himself, but he has been linked with a move away from the Gunners on more than one occasion.

The two players share a lot of similarities, not least the fact that they are both capable of scoring and assisting a large number of goals. Simons scored 19 and assisted eight in Eredivisie last season, while Odegaard scored 15 and set up seven in the Premier League.

Simons scored from 0.19 goals per shot he took last season, as per FBref, compared to 0.16 for Odegaard, while – pretty remarkably – they had an identical pass-completion percentage of 80.3.

While Simons comes out on top in terms of the combined tackles and interceptions managed per 90 (1.90 v 1.21), Odegaard edges things when it comes to successful take-on percentage (57.8 v 49.7).

Signing Odegaard's potential successor while he is still at the club makes perfect sense, though it may well be that Simons – on wages of £26k-per-week at PSV, according to Capology – is paired with the former Real Madrid player should he join.

Once described as "magnificent" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, it is little wonder that many of Europe's elite clubs – Arsenal and PSG being just two of them – are eager to sign Simons.

Under the tutelage of Mikel Arteta, and with Odegaard to lean on, Simons will have the opportunity to fulfil his undoubted potential on the Premier League stage.

We’ve all been there, haven’t we? You turn up on a Sunday morning, look down, and see the brightest, newest Nike boots worn by a player in far better shape than you, already delivering instructions. It’s at that moment that you should request a substitution, because shortly afterwards you are left gasping for air, bamboozled by the movement of some feet far too quick to keep up with. Defenders in Europe’s top five leagues don’t quite have it that easy, however. They can’t just feign a tight calf and off they go. They have to face the prospect of the highest quality cameras witnessing their downfall in front of millions.When they are left flying to the ground after a few sharp stepovers, it doesn’t end at that very moment. No, it is clipped up, and instructed to follow them everywhere they go, before one day ending up on lists such as this.With that said, after Twitter users revealed what they believe are the most embarrassing one-on-one moments in football history, we, at Football FanCast, have decided to rank them.

5 Jefferson Montero vs Calum Chambers

There are many moments that sum up the latter years of Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal side, but it’s hard to think of many more pertinent than this one as Jefferson Montero consistently ran riot up against a helpless Calum Chambers as the Gunners lost 2-1 against Swansea City.

The Swansea winger particularly embarrassed the Arsenal defender when his twists and turns resulted in Chambers losing his footing, signalling ruthless jeers from the Welsh club’s on-watching fans.

4 Mohamed Salah vs Lisandro Martinez

For the first time in a while, it was Manchester United who were the confident side ahead of their game against Liverpool at Anfield, with the focus on just how well Lisandro Martinez had settled in.

Seven. Yes, seven, Liverpool goals later, however, and the Red Devils could only hang their heads in shame after Jurgen Klopp’s side, even in the middle of a poor season, dismantled them once again.

The standout moment came when Mohamed Salah left Martinez literally facing the wrong way and then on the deck, before assisting Cody Gakpo’s second goal of the game.

3 Eden Hazard vs Francis Coquelin

Scoring one of the best goals in Premier League history, Eden Hazard delivered one of the best one-on-one moments that we’ve seen, in the process, leaving Francis Coquelin spinning like a “fidget spinner”, as one fan out it, at Stamford Bridge.

Mercilessly shaking the midfielder off, the Chelsea star went past the rest of the Arsenal defence, before finding the back of the net in vintage Hazard fashion. This was the Belgian at his absolute best.

2 Angel di Maria vs Carlos Puyol

Some say that this is the moment that Carlos Puyol decided it was time to hang up his boots. Angel di Maria simply made his body move in a way that an ageing defender simply should not stretch.

Leaving the legendary centre-back bewildered, Di Maria finished the move off by laying the ball off to a waiting Cristiano Ronaldo to slam home, as Real Madrid defeated Barcelona 3-1.

It’s all the more impressive when you remember just how good Puyol was.

1 Lionel Messi vs Jerome Boateng

With apologies to Jerome Boateng, this one was always going to be top. You have to feel for the former Bayern Munich defender, in a way. No matter how iconic his career has been, this is the moment he’ll be remembered for.

Lionel Messi, as he does better than anyone, slipped past Boateng, who lost his footing, before being forced to watch on as the Argentine chipped an on-rushing Manuel Neuer. You’ll simply struggle to find better goals, and a more embarrassing one-on-one.

West Ham United may have plenty of money available this summer thanks to the imminent sale of Declan Rice, but that does not mean the Hammers will not still be looking for some bargain buys.

What is the latest West Ham United transfer news?

Rice's £105m move to Arsenal is reportedly as good as finalised, meaning David Moyes will have to bring in at least one new midfielder this summer while also looking to strengthen in other areas.

Everton's Amadou Onana is thought to be high on Moyes' list of targets to replace Rice, with that deal expected to set the Hammers back around £50m.

According to The Sun, the Hammers are also lining up a move for in-demand teenage winger Dario Osorio from Chilean top-flight side Universidad de Chile for a reasonable fee of £7.5m.

However, a number of other Premier League teams have been credited with an interest in Osorio, namely Wolverhampton Wanderers, while AC Milan are also said to be weighing up an offer.

Who is West Ham United target Dario Osorio?

Osorio may only have made his senior debut for Universidad de Chile in April last year, but it did not take long for him to earn his first two caps for Chile's senior team.

The 19-year-old has made 46 appearances for the South American club, 37 of those coming in the league, during which time he has scored eight goals.

Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig describes Osorio as a "flamboyant winger" in terms of his playing style, one who has good pace and the ability to dribble and create, which has earned the youngster comparisons to Angel Di Maria.

That may be a fair call, but it is another star from Argentina that West Ham fans will be hoping Osorio can replicate. While not strictly the same type of player, Osorio will look to follow in the steps of a certain Carlos Tevez should he make the move to East London.

Tevez was signed by West Ham from Corinthians in 2006 for his first foray into football outside of South America, with Javier Mascherano also joining in a big transfer coup.

The fan favourite was 22 when he made his Premier League debut, meaning he is a few years further down the line in terms of his development then compared to Osorio now.

In his solitary season at Upton Park, Tevez scored seven goals in 26 Premier League games, including the only goal in a 1-0 win on the final day of the campaign at Manchester United to secure West Ham's stay in the top flight.

The now-39-year-old was named the club's Player of the Year before departing for Manchester United and then, controversially, Manchester City.

Osorio has a lot to do if he is to have a similar impact at West Ham and indeed in European football in the same way as Tevez, but the Irons certainly have proven success in getting it right when recruiting players from that part of the world.

Liverpool have been strongly linked with a move for Khephren Thuram this summer and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source on the club's progress in getting a deal done.

What's the latest on Liverpool's interest in Khephren Thuram?

According to CBS journalist Ben Jacobs, the Merseyside giants could be handed the opportunity to sign the OGC Nice midfielder, despite the French club being keen to hold onto him.

Jacobs revealed on The Football Terrace YouTube channel: "I still think Khephren Thuram is the one to watch now in terms of Liverpool.

"It seems like there is less now in terms of Kone, who is another player who Liverpool have looked at. There are reports Nice wants to keep the player but the feeling is that Nice are going to have to sell some of their assets, so there is an opportunity there for Liverpool."

Will Liverpool sign another midfielder this summer?

The Reds have already secured the signing of World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister this summer in an attempt to add more quality and youth to the centre of the pitch.

A midfield rebuild has been long overdue at Anfield with the former Brighton and Hove Albion star becoming the first permanent midfielder signing since the arrival of Thiago Alcantara from Bayern Munich three years ago.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and James Milner have all been moved on upon the expiry of their contracts this summer and Thuram could be the dream replacement for the latter who will be joining Brighton this summer.

Milner has played a huge part in Liverpool's success over the last half a decade with the 37-year-old playing a number of midfield roles, and his versatility is something that the centre of the pitch has sorely missed as he has reached the latter stages of his career and seen less game time.

Now Klopp can replace that unrivalled work ethic and diversity in skill by landing a deal for Thuram who is renowned for his wide range of capabilities and has no trouble gliding from a deeper role in midfield to break the lines of attack.

Over 35 Ligue One appearances last season, the Frenchman offered a potent attacking threat with two goals scored, four assists registered and nine big chances created, as well as averaging 1.1 shots on goal, 1.1 key passes and 1.3 successful dribbles per game.

Not only that, Thuram has not sacrificed his consistency in his defensive responsibilities as the Nice star averaged 1.1 interceptions, 3.8 duels won and 1.5 tackles per game, according to SofaScore.

For context, no Liverpool central midfielder provided more goal contributions in the Premier League, whilst only three players in the squad averaged more key passes. Meanwhile, defensively, he managed more tackles per outing than the likes of Andy Robertson, Jordan Henderson, Virgil Van Dijk and Joel Matip, via WhoScored.

Milner, meanwhile, could only average 0.8 tackles and 0.4 interceptions per game with 0.4 key passes to show for his efforts. Thuram, therefore, would represent a colossal upgrade at Anfield.

Possessing a reported €40m (£34m) price tag – he has been attracting a lot of attention and earning high praise over his short career so far, with U23 scout and football journalist Antonio Mango outlining the Frenchman's super capabilities:

"At a staggering 6'4ft, Khéphren's presence can't go unnoticed as he stands out above most players on the field. Khéphren excels in his defensive duties, ball-carrying & retention. Khéphren is big, strong, physical, athletic and brilliant in possession, a true diamond, right?"

With that being said, it remains to be seen whether Liverpool will add more depth to the centre of the pitch this summer but Thuram is looking like the one to watch and could be a huge presence in midfield if a deal is done ahead of next season.

Newcastle United are in "advanced talks" over a move to sign Southampton youngster Tino Livramento over a move this summer, according to a key transfer update.

How good is Tino Livramento?

The 20-year-old joined the Saints from Chelsea back in 2021, having been a part of the Blues' academy but ending up moving further south, in order to be a regular elsewhere.

Livramento has proven to be one of the few bright sparks for Southampton since his arrival, catching the eye with his performances at right-back and making 34 appearances in total. Sadly, that figure would be a lot higher, had the youngster not suffered a cruciate ligament injury that kept him sidelined for many months last term.

With Saints now relegated from the Premier League, however, they will find it extremely difficult to keep hold of a number of star players, such as James Ward-Prowse and Romeo Lavia.

Newcastle aren't wasting any time this summer when it comes to bolstering Eddie Howe's side, with Sandro Tonali set to make the move to St James' Park in a deal worth €70m, and another move for Livramento is also gathering pace.

Are Newcastle in talks with Livramento?

According to The Telegraph's John Percy and Luke Edwards, the Magpies are in advanced talks to sign the right-back, with Howe personally keen.

"Newcastle United are in advanced talks with relegated Southampton over a potential £15 million deal for Tino Livramento.

Eddie Howe, the Newcastle manager, wants to raid the Championship club for the 20-year-old defender and negotiations are ongoing, though they remain apart at this stage on valuation."

Livramento could be such an exciting signing by Newcastle this summer, being viewed as someone who can provide competition for Kieran Trippier, but also eventually usurp him as the first-choice right-back at the club.

Theo Walcott once claimed that he was "fantastic" and had an "aura" about him, even despite his tender years, and assuming he overcomes his serious injury, he could have a massive career ahead of him.

Livramento, who shares the same agency as Howe, already has five caps to his name for England's Under-21s – again, that could be more without the fitness woes – and in an era of so many impressive English right-backs, whether it be Trippier, Trent Alexander-Arnold or Reece James, the Saints starlet could be the next great one to come along.

Improved squad depth could be key for Newcastle next season as well, with Champions League football making their schedule far more intense, and Livramento is someone who could come in and dovetail with Trippier, arguably playing less but still having an important role to play week in, week out.

Manchester City are reportedly in pole position to sign RB Leipzig and Croatia defender Josko Gvardiol, leading Premier League rivals Liverpool in the race to sign the 21-year-old.

Manchester City transfer news – Josko Gvardiol

The highly-rated defender is high of the watchlist of a number of big European clubs, but transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has tipped Manchester City as the most likely to secure the signing.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Romano hinted that the champions of England and Europe are best placed to sign the central defender who starred at the World Cup for Croatia.

"Leipzig are not even accepting €80 million as a price tag for Gvardiol, so I think it will be around €100 million [£85m] instead and I see Man City being in a better position to sign him, but only if they are willing to spend that money, otherwise the player could stay in Leipzig for one more season," he said.

Josko Gvardiol could be City's next Vincent Kompany

City have a wealth of quality at the back, and signing Gvardiol would improve their elite defence even more.

Pep Guardiola tweaked City’s system this season, opting for an unusual 3-2-4-1 formation instead of their traditional 4-3-3 formation in which full-backs were constantly overlapping.

In the defensive three were three ball-playing centre-backs.

Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji and Ruben Dias were typically the trio, while John Stones was turned into a transitional midfielder in a hybrid holding role.

Although Dias would be considered the premier defender in this side, City have yet to match the quality of club legend and former captain, Vincent Kompany.

Gvardiol could be that very replacement, and at just 21 years-old, he could become a pivotal part of the Manchester City team for years to come.

The Croatian "monster" – as hailed by Romano back in December – is the glue of the RB Leipzig defence.

The Bundesliga outfit have won 32 of the 59 games the centre-back has played.

Similar to the no-nonsense Kompany, Gvardiol loves a tackle, registering 219 of them in the 2022/23 Bundesliga season and winning 60 aerial duels.

Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra both put the Leipzig defender in their World Cup 2022 team of the tournament, with Ferdinand proclaiming that the City target was his favourite centre back at the tournament.

“He’s young, he’s 21 years old, so to come and perform the way he did, so mature, so calm.

“He is really good on the ball, in the early stages coming out with the ball a lot. Against Messi and Argentina he got turned quite a few times, but this is Messi, so I would put that to one side. In general, I thought he was [a] stand-out for me. I think he has got a chance to go on and become one of the best defenders in the world, if he can continue improving like this.”

Kompany was of the world’s best defenders in his time at City, and Gvardiol could become the second coming of the Belgian international for the blue half of Manchester.

He, at 22, made a similar switch from the Bundesliga, signing for the Manchester giants from Hamburger SV back in 2008.

Good teams don’t wait until the team becomes stale to begin rebuilding, they continually look to improve whether results are good or bad.

Guardiola, fresh from the treble, could send out a major statement signing one of Europe’s hottest young prospects to add to his already stout defence.