You could make one hell of a five-a-side team out of the players RB Leipzig have sold in recent years.
Ibrahima Konate and Dayot Upamecano at the back. Marcel Sabitzer and Naby Keita patrolling the centre of the park, releasing inch-perfect passes for an onrushing Timo Werner or Matheus Cunha.
That Leipzig are still competitive at the top end of the Bundesliga – winning 11 out of 16 games and scoring 43 goals since the appointment of Domenico Tedesco – is a testament to their renowned recruitment policy.
And with Josko Gvardiol making good on his undoubted potential at the Red Bull Arena, one of Europe’s most promising central defenders is the latest Leipzig starlet to take centre stage in the gossip columns.
Is Josko Gvardiol heading to the Premier League?
According to The Mail, the versatile Croatia international is now Fabio Paratici’s number one target. He’s leapfrogged Sven Botman and long-time target Pau Torres in Tottenham Hotspur’s summer wishlist despite an eye-watering £50 million price-tag.
Croatian publication Index claim that Arsenal, Chelsea, Juventus and a host of other clubs across the continent would jump at the opportunity to liberate Gvardiol from Leipzig over the summer.
Even if that sorry Roman Abramovich saga seems to have ruled out the Blues at this stage.
“Josko is an amazing player who always wants to learn,” former Salzburg and Leipzig coach Jesse Marsch said of Gvardiol.
The youngster ironically turned down the American’s current employers Leeds United in the summer of 2020.
“I’ve never seen a 19-year-old with so much potential,” Marsch adds.
Now 20, Gvardiol has come on leaps and bounds in Germany. Splitting his duties between centre-half and left-back, the Zagreb-born defender certainly ticks a lot of boxes for Arsenal.
The London giants are prioritising young, hungry, technically-gifted talent, a la Ben White, Albert Lokonga and Martin Odegaard.
Gvardiol would provide some much-needed cover for Kieran Tierney on the flank and competition for the left-footed Gabriel Magalhaes in the middle of Mikel Arteta’s backline.
Should Arsenal secure a return to Europe, the Gunners boss will be under pressure to add some depth to his squad. Arsenal’s roster much smaller now than the one Arteta inherited from Unai Emery in late-2019.
A transfer no-go?
Gvardiol, however, has already made his feelings on a summer move very clear indeed. The phrase ‘barking up the wrong tree’ comes to mind.
“I really enjoy every day with this great team, at this first-class club,” Gvardiol said earlier this month.
“I don’t think about anything else. And if you ask me if I’ll play here next year? Yes, of course (I will).”
That’s that, then, right? Nothing to see here, ladies and gentlemen.
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