Chelsea are looking to quickly get a deal over the line which would see RB Leipzig star Josko Gvardiol head to Stamford Bridge, transfer insider Dean Jones has told GiveMeSport.

Blues boss Graham Potter will be handed the opportunity to strengthen his squad when the winter window opens for business next month.

GiveMeSport Transfer Update With Dean Jones

Chelsea transfer news - Josko Gvardiol

According to 90min, Chelsea are confident that they will win the race for Gvardiol's signature despite facing some stiff competition.

The report suggests Real Madrid, Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are also among the Croatia international's suitors, but the Blues' negotiations are more advanced and they have indicated a willingness to reach an agreement in January after their interest has not subsided since the summer.

Leipzig will demand £45million, with performance-related add-ons to follow, while Chelsea have held talks with Gvardiol's representatives over an initial contract offer of three-and-a-half seasons.

The west Londoners began keeping tabs on the central defender's progress when he was 16 and their admiration has not gone away.

Journalist Simon Phillips recently told GiveMeSport that Chelsea have attempted to win the race for Gvardiol by tying him down to a ‘pre-deal’, but they have failed to reach an agreement with Leipzig.

Read more: January Transfer Window 2023: When Does It Begin, Rumours and Everything You Need To Know

What has Dean Jones said about Gvardiol?

Jones believes the biggest obstacle Chelsea are facing in their pursuit of Gvardiol is the fact that he has so many other clubs battling for his services.

The journalist feels the capital club are hopeful of sealing the deal as soon as possible after performing well on the international stage in recent weeks.

Jones told GiveMeSport: "The problem for them comes in the shape that other big clubs are taking him more seriously than ever, based on the fact that he's played at such a high level at the World Cup.

"I think, first and foremost, Chelsea want to try and get this one done."

Should Gvardiol be a priority signing for Chelsea?

Chelsea currently find themselves eighth in the Premier League - eight points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur - and tightening up at the back would certainly boost the chances of Potter's side breaking into the Champions League qualification spots.

Gvardiol showed during the World Cup that he is a huge presence in the backline, with Sofascore statistics showing he averaged 5.3 clearances, 1.6 interceptions and 1.3 tackles per outing.

Those figures highlight that the 20-year-old would make Chelsea harder for opponents to break down, while he also contributed at the other end of the pitch by scoring during Croatia's third-place play-off win over Morocco last weekend.

Gvardiol gained praise from Pat Nevin during his country's quarter-final clash against Brazil, with the former Chelsea winger describing him as a 'Rolls-Royce'.

Potter and Blues co-owner Todd Boehly should do all they can to convince Leipzig to sell Gvardiol during the winter transfer window.

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