RB Leipzig head coach Marco Rose has played down rumours that the German club have agreed to sell Josko Gvardiol to Manchester City.
The 21-year-old has been strongly linked with a big-money move to the Etihad Stadium throughout this summer, with Pep Guardiola understood to have identified the defender as his primary target.
Talks have taken place between the two teams and Leipzig sporting director Max Eberl confirmed earlier this month that Gvardiol has informed the club of his desire to join Man City this summer, stating that the defender "will end up in Pep's strong hands."
Man City are believed to have been locked in negotiations with Leipzig for some time over a transfer fee, with the Bundesliga club refusing to lower their €100m (£85.4m) valuation of the Croatia international.
Nevertheless, a report from journalist Fabrizio Romano emerged on Wednesday evening that the treble winners had reached a full agreement with Leipzig to sign Gvardiol, and that the defender has completed the first part of his medical.
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Gvardiol, who is thought to have already agreed personal terms with Man City, then fuelled speculation further when he liked an Instagram post about the alleged agreement for him to leave Leipzig and join the Citizens.
Separate reports have since claimed that Man City are yet to agree a fee with Leipzig for Gvardiol and the defender is also yet to have undergone a medical.
Romano has responded with an update on the transfer saga, and claims that there is now "tension" between Man City and Leipzig during the final stages of negotiations, with the previously scheduled medical for Thursday being cancelled amid leaks to the media.
The Italian journalist insists that a verbal agreement has been reached for Gvardiol to join City, but Leipzig boss Rose has denied such speculation.
Speaking to Sky Deutschland, as quoted by reporter Philipp Hinze, Rose said: "Josko is one of our players and as far as I know he will remain one of our players.
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"I don't know anything about a medical check, nothing about a first and nothing about a second. I think if it was, I would know as head coach!"
Gvardiol is currently with Rose's first-team squad at their pre-season training base in Italy ahead of a friendly encounter with Udinese next Tuesday.
The left-footed centre-back, who can also play at left-back, joined Leipzig in 2020 from Dinamo Zagreb and has since made a total of 87 appearances in all competitions, including 41 outings last season.
Gvardiol has won two DFB-Pokals with Die Roten Bullen, while he was an integral member of the Croatia side that won the third-place playoff against Monaco at the 2022 World Cup, scoring in a 2-1 victory in Qatar.
Dani Olmo is also training with Leipzig's first-team squad amid reports that Man City have identified the versatile attacker as a potential replacement for Al-Ahli-bound Riyad Mahrez.
Oliver Thomas
