Chelsea have reportedly rekindled their interest in highly-rated centre-back Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig after failing to buy him last summer.
After excelling at the Red Bull Arena, the Croatia international has rapidly established himself as one of Europe’s most sought-after center-backs.
Gvardiol’s breakthrough at club level won him a spot in Croatia’s World Cup squad for 2022, and his stock increased further after a succession of dominant performances in Qatar.
Gvardiol, a fixture on Zlatko Dalic’s backline, was a driving force in Croatia’s bronze-medal run, playing every minute and scoring in the third-place playoff triumph over Morocco.
Prior to his outstanding World Cup performance, the 21-year-old was repeatedly linked with a move to Chelsea during the summer transfer window, but the Blues instead signed Kalidou Koulibaly and Wesley Fofana after being turned down.
However, speculation about Gvardiol’s future is heating up again, with Real Madrid, Liverpool, and Manchester United all vying for his services.
Chelsea are also back in the running, according to The Times, but interested parties must act quickly to complete a trade this summer before a £97m release clause takes effect in 2024.
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Chelsea have reportedly been monitoring Gvardiol since his days as a teenager at Dinamo Zagreb, which he left in 2021 to join Leipzig, and his contract at the Red Bull Arena extends until 2027.
Gvardiol recently spoke to The Times about Chelsea’s interest in him during the summer of 2022, confirming his desire to play in the Premier League after rejecting a move to Leeds United in 2021.
Chelsea are already scheduled to sign Christopher Nkunku from Leipzig this summer, but Roten Bullen manager Marco Rose expects Gvardiol to stay for the 2023-24 season.
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