Chelsea have reportedly reached out to RB Leipzig regarding the availability of Josko Gvardiol.
BILD journalist Christian Falk has told Give Me Sport that Premier League giants Chelsea have approached Bundesliga side RB Leipzig regarding Josko Gvardiol.
The 20-year-old Croatian defender was one of the standout players at the recently-concluded FIFA World Cup in Qatar. A solid presence at the back, Gvaardiol has the making of a world-class centre-back for years to come.
Chelsea have been long linked with the youngster but have failed to make much progress in their pursuit so far. They do not appear to have thrown in the towel, with technical director Christopher Vivell making an overture to the Bundesliga side.
Having worked at Leipzig before moving to Chelsea, Vivell certainly knows who to reach out to to get a deal over the line. While Leipzig continues to hold firm on keeping their star man, Chelsea might have been handed a glimmer of hope.
Chelsea’s chances of signing Gvardiol this January appear to be non-existent. But a summer deal could still be possible. The 20-year-old has a mammoth €110 million release clause to his name. And a lot could depend on whether the Blues are ready to meet it.
Todd Boehly’s arrival has done little to stem Chelsea’s spending sprees in the transfer market. Given that Gvardiol can anchor the team’s backline for a decade or more, there is little reason to believe that the American will not sign off on a king’s ransom.
Thiago Silva is not getting any younger, while Kalidou Koulibaly has looked off the pace in the Premier League. Wesley Fofana continues to struggle with injuries, while Trevoh Chalobah is far from the finished piece. To call the Blues’ centre-back roster a mixed bag would be an understatement.
Chelsea signed Benoit Badiashile earlier this month, and the youngster enjoyed a solid debut against Crystal Palace, helping Graham Potter’s side to a clean sheet. Should Gvardiol arrive, he, alongside Badiashile and Fofana, could offer Potter and co the stability they crave at the heart of the defense.
Gvardiol is also attracting attention from other clubs including Real Madrid and Liverpool. Chelsea are in the midst of a massive rebuild and need to get their act together. They have also concluded several deals with Leipzig in recent years and are set to bring in Christoper Nkunku in the summer. Whether Gvardiol will also join that gravy train leaving the Bundesliga giants remains to be seen.
