Chelsea ‘will be back in’ for RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol given his outstanding performances for club and country, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.
The Blues have been heavily linked with a move for the talented 20-year-old in recent months and he could become one of Graham Potter’s first acquisitions at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea transfer news – Josko Gvardiol
French outlet FootMercato have claimed that Chelsea are already involved in a bidding war for Gvardiol with Premier League rivals Manchester City and Manchester United.
City's offer is said to be in excess of £85 million and includes bonuses and a sell on percentage as the reigning Premier League champions look to win the race for his signature.
On the other hand, Chelsea and United are believed to have offered between £77 million and £82 million for Gvardiol’s services with an end to the negotiations not yet in sight.
It’s also stated that Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona are also interested in the Croatia international, and with his contract not due to expire until 2027, Leipzig will be confident of securing a sizeable fee for him.
What has Sheth said about Gvardiol?
Sheth has informed GiveMeSport that he is ‘sure’ Chelsea will revive their interest in Gvardiol after missing out on him in the summer.
Read more: January Transfer Window 2023: When Does It Begin, Rumours and Everything You Need To Know
He said: “The other player who we were talking about in the summer, who we might be talking about in January and potentially next summer as well if he doesn't move in January, is Josko Gvardiol from Croatia.
“Heavily linked with Chelsea in the summer, it looked like a done deal at one point, and I'm sure Chelsea will be back in for him. He has been absolutely tremendous for Croatia at such a young age as well.”
Do Chelsea need Gvardiol?
Chelsea replaced the departed centre-back duo Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen with Wesley Fofana and Kalidou Koulibaly in the previous transfer window.
The duo have arguably failed to live up to expectations so far in west London, though, and Potter could look to improve his options at the heart of defence either in January or next summer.
Gvardiol may be an especially appealing prospect to the Chelsea hierarchy given he is left-footed and all of their current centre-backs prefer to use their opposite foot.
His presence in the Chelsea backline could provide a natural balance, therefore, and form the foundations of the capital club’s defence for many years to come.