Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Josko Gvardiol, who seems set to stay put at RB Leipzig this summer.
According to Nathan Gissing, RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol is set to remain at RB Leipzig in the upcoming summer transfer window despite interest from Premier League giants Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.
Gvardiol came through the youth ranks at Croatian outfit Dinamo Zagreb and earned a reputation for himself as one of the most talented young defenders in Europe. Having impressed in his homeland, the 20-year-old moved to RB Leipzig in the summer of last year and has continued to make a positive impression on the onlookers.
Gvardiol featured in 46 matches in his debut season in Germany, even directly contributing five goals, helping the Saxony-based outfit win the DFB-Pokal. Capped ten times by the Croatian national team, the 20-year-old has attracted a lot of interest from clubs across Europe, particularly in the Premier League.
Chelsea have shown a strong interest in Gvardiol as they are set for a major defensive overhaul this summer. The Blues are set to lose Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger to Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively, on free transfers. On top of that, captain Cesar Azpilicueta could also be on the move, while Thiago Silva will be turning 38 in a few months.
So, at least one top centre-back is a necessity for Chelsea. Sevilla’s Jules Kounde remains a priority for Thomas Tuchel, but Gvardiol has also emerged as a strong candidate for the west London outfit.
Chelsea’s London rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, have also shown serious interest in Gvardiol ahead of the summer. The Lilywhites could be set for a splurge in the summer after a cash injection of £150 million, and manager Antonio Conte remains intent on strengthening his defensive options with Japhet Tanganga and Joe Rodon likely to be axed.
Having used Ben Davies as the left-sided centre-back since his arrival, Conte is seeking an upgrade in the position, with Gvardiol emerging as a target, along with Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni.
However, as per the update from Nathan Gissing, both Chelsea and Tottenham have been handed a blow in their pursuit of Gvardiol as he is likely to stay put at RB Leipzig, where he has a contract until 2026. With the Croatian unlikely to move, it will be interesting to see who Chelsea and Tottenham decide to target in the summer.
