KOVACIC: GVARDIOL WOULD BE A PERFECT FIT AT CITY

MATEO KOVACIC reckons his highly-rated Croatia team-mate Josko Gvardiol would be a perfect fit at Manchester City.

- SIMON MULLOCK

City have been given a two-week deadline by RB Leipzig to complete an £87 million deal for the powerful centre-back after the two clubs failed to agree on the structure of add-ons to be included.

Gvardiol has made it clear to the Bundesliga club that he wants the chance to play for the treble winners - but is reluctant to try to force his departure and has been training with his usual intensity at Leipzig's training camp in the Austrian Tirol.

Kovacic, a £30m acquisition from Chelsea, has no doubts that Gvardiol is the real deal at the age of 21.

"Of course I'd like him to join," said Kovacic.

"I know he's very young and has great potential. He can come here and learn and be the best version of himself, like he wants to be for sure.