Tottenham Hotspur are keen to snap up RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol – but Arsenal are thought to be in the race for his signature too.
The Daily Mail reported earlier this month that Tottenham have made Gvardiol their top summer target as they seek a new central defender.
Despite paying just £15million for Gvardiol last summer, it’s claimed that Leipzig want around £50million for the Croatian star this summer.
Tottenham are desperate to add another left-sided centre back for Antonio Conte’s back three and Gvardiol appears to be the top target.
The problem for Tottenham is that other clubs are keen on Gvardiol too, with Croatian news outlet Index reporting that Arsenal would love to sign Gvardiol.
Chelsea and Juventus are allegedly keen too, but why Arsenal?
Ben White and Gabriel Magalhaes have formed a strong centre back pairing at Arsenal this season, shining in front of Aaron Ramsdale.
Yet with no future for Pablo Mari, Arsenal may need to find another left-sided centre back to compete with Gabriel.
Gvardiol fits the bill as a ball-playing defender and he has even been likened to David Alaba by the official Bundesliga website.
That all sounds exciting, but would Arsenal really pay £50million to sign a player who would have to compete with Gabriel?
At that price – similar to White – you would be expecting Gvardiol to be a nailed-on starter, something that may not happen with Arsenal.
Gvardiol would be guaranteed first-team action at Tottenham and will have surely seen how fellow Croatian Luka Modric excelled with Spurs.
Tottenham would absolutely hate to lose their top defensive target to Arsenal, but we would still back Spurs to be a more likely destination than Arsenal right now.
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