Chelsea could now sign RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol for as little as £44m, with the Manchester City and Tottenham target previously being valued as high as £80m.
According to the Telegraph, the Blues are looking to activate Gvardiol’s new release clause ahead of a move in 2023, with the defender signing a new contract with Leipzig in August that included a €50m (£44m) purchase option for any interested clubs.
Chelsea have been chasing Gvardiol for quite some time, with City and Tottenham also being linked with the Croatian international following a breakout year in the Bundesliga. The 20-year-old is regarded by many as one of the best young defenders in world football, and a talent who could develop into a superstar in the right conditions.
As per the report, Chelsea are already close to signing Christopher Nkunku from Leipzig ahead of next season, and Graham Potter now seems keen to add Gvardiol to the mix, with Todd Boehly showing no signs of slowing down with his spending for his new club.
Labelled as ‘extraordinary’ by Croatia legend and former Bayern Munich star Ivica Olic as per the Bundesliga’s official website, Gvardiol was valued last year by the CIES Football Observatory at £80m, making the youngster one of the most valuable players in all of Europe.
Moreover, with City and Tottenham also chasing the defender, Chelsea seemingly want to beat their rivals to the punch by activating Gvardiol’s release clause as soon as possible. And this transfer has the potential to be one of the west London club’s best in some time.
Chelsea signing Josko Gvardiol could be their smartest move in some time
Chelsea seemingly have a habit of wasting money on what look like sure-fire successes in the transfer market, with Romelu Lukaku the most recent and biggest example for this theory. Yet for Gvardiol, there’s a sense that this could be the Blues’ most intelligent signing in some time given what they will be getting for £44m.
As well as annoying their Premier League rivals in City and Tottenham, Chelsea will be signing a defender who could be part of the club’s furniture for well over a decade. And Gvardiol’s style of play and physicality make the youngster perfectly suited for top-flight English football.
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