Club director suggests Liverpool could now have blocked £86m Man City deal

Add as preferred source on Google

RB Leipzig sporting director Max Eberl has suggested Dominik Szoboszlai’s move to Liverpool could block Josko Gvardiol from joining Manchester City.

City are reportedly pushing hard to sign Gvardiol, with claims surfacing this week that a deal had been agreed. However, this has since been disputed, with the self-confessed Liverpool fan still a Leipzig player.

Now, Eberl has told Sky Germany reporter Philipp Hinze that the German club don’t need the money. Szoboszlai’s £60m transfer has seen to that.

“The fact is that Man City would like to have him,” said the 49-year-old. “Currently we are still very far apart.

“The transfer of Szoboszlai has secured us financially. We don’t need the money. We would prefer Josko to stay.“

The Hungarian is already paying back that transfer fee!

Szoboszlai money keeping Leipzig calm

This could of course be merely posturing from Eberl. It still feels likely that the two clubs will reach an agreement for Gvardiol to join City.

But if they don’t and he doesn’t, then you would really fancy Liverpool to come in for the Croatian next year.

The Reds are still in the market for a centre-back this summer. As the weeks tick by and their midfield remains unsolved though, it seems more and more unlikely that they’ll get one.

Neither Joel Matip or Joe Gomez look poised to leave. So, Jurgen Klopp will perhaps happily head into the new season with the same options as the last one.

In that scenario, Liverpool will have to go big next year. Gvardiol has already supposedly been marked out as the ideal candidate, and more funds will be free to bolster the defence in 12 months. Leipzig reportedly want around £86m for the 21-year-old [Fabrizio Romano], but with little else needed, maybe the Reds could manage that.

Also, whereas City appear to be having some trouble dealing with Leipzig, the Reds are on good terms with them. The Szoboszlai deal was wrapped up quickly with little fuss, as was the negotiation to take Konate from Leipzig to Liverpool in 2021. With Jorg Schmadtke potentially still on board at Anfield too, the Reds may have another advantage.

City have been known to walk away from deals they deem to be too expensive. If they do that here, it could leave a clear path for Liverpool in 2024.