Premier League giants Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are involved in a three-way battle for RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol.
According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea have made RB Leipzig centre-back their top defensive target for the summer and will battle Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United for his signature. But with four years left on the Croatia international’s contract, Leipzig aren’t too keen to let him leave.
Gvardiol, who is rated at €30 million, moved to the Bundesliga club last summer from Dinamo Zagreb. He immediately slotted into the heart of defence at the club. The 20-year-old started 28 Bundesliga games for the German giants this season, making a total of 46 appearances across competitions.
His performances caught the eyes of some European giants, with now as many as three Premier League clubs eager to snap him up after just one season in Germany.
Tottenham Hotspur have made a centre-back signing their priority, with Antonio Conte especially eager for a left-footed player. He is reportedly keen on reuniting with Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni, who is their top target. They are monitoring Gvardiol’s situation should the Bastoni move doesn’t materialise.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are set to lose both their first-choice centre-backs, Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen, with the futures of Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso in the air as well. Defence is thus an area of concern for the Blues going into the summer window.
They have reportedly made Gvardiol their top target and are believed to be the favourites to sign the 20-year-old. But they could face some competition from Manchester United.
The Red Devils are also in the market for a central defender and have been linked with a host of names. The Croatian is just one of them, with the Mail report claiming they have just made ‘tentative enquiries’. Newcastle United are also said to be interested in the youngster.
While clubs continue to monitor the defender’s situation, it would be tough to convince Leipzig to sell him, especially with four years left on his contract. They could also demand much more than the €30 million that is being quoted.