Chelsea are set to ramp up their efforts to bring Josko Gvardiol in January than in the summer, with Real Madrid also in the race.
According to the Mirror, Chelsea could push to sign Josko Gvardiol as early as January and get ahead of the queue forming for the star defender. The £45 million-rated Real Madrid target is attracting tremendous interest after a fantastic World Cup campaign.
Josko Gvardiol is in demand after tremendous performances for Croatia at the World Cup. The defender was one of the top players in the tournament, which has only resulted in increased interest in the centre-back. RB Leipzig are bracing for big offers, although they may not want to sell him in January.
Real Madrid is one of the primary contenders for the £45 million-rated target, with giant eyeballs from Premier League sides. Chelsea are among the chief suitors for the Croatian, who remain desperate to wrap up a deal for the centre-back.
Chelsea has adapted to a new strategy to tempt players and their respective clubs by making early offers and paying premium prices. They adopted a similar style in pursuing Gvardiol’s Leipzig teammate Christopher Nkunku and reportedly agreed to a deal by paying more than his release clause.
They may look to wrap up a similar deal for Gvardiol, and they reportedly want him in January rather than summer. The defender joined Leipzig in a £15 million deal in 2021 and has since seen his value triple to around £45 million.
Football markets, for most parts, are not bothered by market value, as Leipzig is set to demand a sizeable fee to sell the centre-back. They wanted suitors to pay a huge fee for the 20-year-old, although interested parties will look to reduce the price tag.
Real Madrid reportedly submitted an offer for the defender, but they are unlikely to sign him in January. They want to offer a four-year contract in the summer, while Chelsea are already planning on a three-and-a-half-year deal.
As things stand, no clubs have an agreement with Leipzig, although the Bundesliga side will be bracing for huge offers to arrive. Chelsea remains keen and will push to get ahead of the queue and sign the defender at the earliest possible opportunity or might even have an agreement ahead of a summer move.
