Pep Guardiola expectation of Man City defenders will serve as warning for Josko Gvardiol

Manchester City will be strengthening their defence after agreeing a straight €90m (£77.5m) fee with RB Leipzig for Josko Gvardiol.

The 21-year-old is poised to become the second signing of the summer at the Etihad Stadium. He is set to join countryman Mateo Kovacic at City, who has joined from Chelsea.

Talks have persisted between City and the Bundesliga side for some time before the transfer fee was agreed. There are no add-ons and means City will not be breaking the record amount paid for a central defender.

That still remains with rivals Manchester United for the £80m paid to Leicester City for Harry Maguire back in 2019. Maguire has since fallen out of favour at Old Trafford and was recently stripped of the captaincy by Erik ten Hag.

READ MORE: Man City squad numbers available to Josko Gvardiol as fee agreed with RB Leipzig

Pep Guardiola evidently set his sights on Gvardiol, who was very impressive at the World Cup in Qatar and was a consistent performer for Leipzig throughout last season. The Blues boss will hope to have his new defender around for the Premier League opener against Burnley next Friday.

Gvardiol joins a City side which won the Treble last season and has strength in depth at the back. His arrival could lead to the departure of Aymeric Laporte though before the transfer window shuts at the start of September.

The central defensive group which Gvardiol is set to join has proven quality and strength in depth. John Stones, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, Kyle Walker, and Manuel Akanji will be complimented well by the Croatia international's addition.

And though Gvardiol is yet to play for Guardiola, the City boss has made it clear what he wants and expects to see from his defenders. Speaking to