Chelsea are working on a deal to add RB Leipzig and Croatia international Joško Gvardiol to Graham Potter’s squad at Stamford Bridge, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has told GiveMeSport.

The centre-back was part of Zlatko Dalić’s Vatreni squad that finished third at the World Cup this month.

Chelsea transfer news – Joško Gvardiol

Journalist Dean Jones recently told GiveMeSport that Chelsea are looking to get a deal for Gvardiol over the line as quickly as possible, following the centre-back’s impressive showings at the World Cup this winter.

According to The Mirror, the Blues are prepared to battle with Spanish giants Real Madrid in the race for the Leipzig star’s signature, with the Premier League side planning to move for his services in January.

Sky Germany has revealed that the 20-year-old has a release clause of £96m in his contract with the Bundesliga club, a fee that would make him the most expensive defender in the competition’s history should one of his suitors press ahead with a deal and activate it.

And Romano has suggested that Chelsea will try and secure Gvardiol’s signature again next month, having failed with a bid worth almost £78m in the summer market.

What has Romano said about Gvardiol and Chelsea?

Romano told GiveMeSport: “They are working on it, Chelsea are trying to find a way.

“They were the first to approach Leipzig last summer because they were pushing for Gvardiol. In the final days of the window, they had a bid rejected.

“It was €80m plus add-ons making it closer to €90m to leave the player on loan at Leipzig for one season and then sign him in the summer of 2023. Leipzig said no and they extended his contract.”

How did Gvardiol perform at the World Cup?

Gvardiol, who has been described as "scary" and a "monster" by pundit Johan Djourou made a name for himself at the World Cup this year, with Leipzig no doubt hoping that his performances increase his transfer value going into the January market.

The centre-back played in every minute of Croatia’s campaign in Qatar, as the Eastern European nation secured a third-placed finish at the tournament, reaching their second consecutive semi-final in the process.

An average WhoScored rating of 6.94 for his showings in the Middle East ranked the Leipzig star as the nation’s seventh-best-performing player on the world’s biggest stage, suggesting that he performed to a consistently solid standard.

And with the youngster’s performances displaying just how much potential he possesses, this may be a signing in which Potter encourages the Chelsea hierarchy to get over the line in the winter window, with the club wanting to press on in both the Premier League and Champions League in the second half of the campaign.