Joško Gvardiol wants to go to Real Madrid - and he's saying it in a language every football manager understands. When a reporter asked about his future, the Croatian defender answered with "after the World Cup we'll see what's next." Translated from diplomatic into plain human: the door is open, only the price hasn't been written yet.

According to Spain's AS, the 24-year-old Manchester City defender has a "clear desire" to move to Madrid, where they see him as a long-term solution. City don't want to let him go and plan to offer him a new long-term contract - but Gvardiol has only two years left on his current one, and that's exactly the window in which clubs start to get nervous.

Why is Real rushing right now? Because their defence fell apart from injuries. David Alaba left as a free agent, while Rüdiger, Militão and Asensio spent more of the season on the treatment table than on the pitch. The academy gladiator Dean Huijsen struggled in his first season. When that many names go down at once, management isn't looking for a player - it's looking for emergency help.

And Gvardiol is precisely that help that looks like a luxury. He plays both left-back and centre-back, carries the ball well, holds up under pressure, dribbles and reads positions - last season he added two goals and five assists. Weaknesses? Sometimes he drifts out of focus, and crosses from left-back aren't his strongest suit. Minor quibbles for a player half of Europe wants.

For the Balkan fan this is a story with a familiar ring: another of ours from the region the biggest clubs are fighting over. A Croat in Real's shirt wouldn't be the first, nor the last. The only question is whether City will give in - or wait for Gvardiol to say out loud himself what he's already saying more quietly.