Newcastle United are reportedly eyeing a summer move for RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol as they look to bolster their defensive options.
According to the Daily Mail, Newcastle United are looking to add another centre-back to their squad in the summer transfer window and have identified RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol as a potential target.
The 20-year-old came through the youth ranks at Croatian outfit Dinamo Zagreb and showed a lot of potential after breaking into the first-team setup. It earned Gvardiol a transfer to RB Leipzig in the summer of last year, and the defender has thrived in Germany.
Since arriving, Gvardiol has featured 36 times for the club, scoring two goals and chalking up three assists. His performances for the Bundesliga outfit have gathered admirers in the Premier League in the form of Tottenham Hotspur. Now, Newcastle United have also entered the picture to sign the Croatian international in the summer.
Newcastle United strengthened their backline in the January window with the addition of Dan Burn. However, Eddie Howe remains keen on adding more quality to his defensive roster, considering that Federico Fernandez and Ciaran Clark are likely to leave at the end of the season, while Jamaal Lascelles has not been performing consistently enough this term.
So, bringing in a new defender makes sense for Newcastle, who have been looking at LOSC Lille’s Sven Botman as a priority target. But with AC Milan believed to be in the lead to sign the Dutch centre-half, the Magpies have been forced to keep their options open in the search for a centre-back.
Newcastle United have launched an approach for Alessio Romagnoli, who will be a free agent in the summer as his contract with AC Milan stands to expire. At the same time, though, the Tyneside outfit are also keeping tabs on Josko Gvardiol, with the scouting department at St James’ Park set to discuss the possibility of signing him in the coming weeks.
Gvardiol has a contract with Leipzig that runs until the summer of 2026. With interest in the defender rising ahead of the summer window, it remains to be seen if the Croatian international ends up making the jump to England.