Premier League rivals Manchester City are ready to submit a world-record bid for Chelsea transfer target and Croatian international Josko Gvardiol, according to Footmercato.

Manchester City want to blow the competition for Gvardiol’s signature out of the water by making him the most expensive defender of all time.

Manchester City are ready to offer £94million for the RB Leipzig centre-back, which would squash the previous record set by Harry Maguire’s £80m move to Manchester United in 2019.

Described as ‘unbelievable’ by Dean Ashton, the 20 year old defender has been one of the stars of the 2022 World Cup.

Chelsea reportedly started scouting Gvardiol four years ago and are keen on signing the 20-year-old centre-back after having a bid rejected by RB Leipzig in the summer.

Chelsea have reportedly submitted an £80million bid for Gvardiol but must now beat Manchester City’s £94million to have any chance of signing the RB Leipzig defender.

West Ham boss David Moyes has previously hailed Gvardiol as one of the talents to watch at the World Cup.

Moyes believes the RB Leipzig defender will end up playing in the Premier League in the next few years.

“I picked out Gvardiol, 20, as one of the talents to watch at this tournament and he really is going to be a super player,” Moyes wrote in his column for The Times.

“He was Croatia’s left back at Euro 2020 but is probably going to play most of his career at left centre back, where we’re seeing him here.

“He came through the Red Bull system and they excel at picking out new talents from eastern Europe.

“I’ll be amazed if he doesn’t come to the Premier League in the next couple of years.”