Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic has labelled Tottenham Hotspur target Josko Gvardiol ‘the best central defender in the world’ ahead of a potential £44 million move to the Premier League, speaking to 24Sata.
The haunted expression on Romelu Lukaku’s face told it’s own story. During the tense goalless draw which saw Roberto Martinez’s side bow out of the Qatar World Cup at the group stages, Belgium’s all-time record goalscorer needed to take a few seconds to process what on earth had happened.
Lukaku could have been forgiven for planning his celebration as the ball fizzed across the Croatian box in the dying seconds at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. It would have taken just a flick of the Inter Milan striker’s leg to send Belgium through.
But then came Josko Gvardiol, out of absolutely nowhere. Swooping in to clear while sending Croatia into the last-16 at Belgium’s expense. It felt like the sporting equivalent of stopping a bomb going off with one second left on the stopwatch.
Perhaps the finest, most dramatic piece of defending we’ve seen throughout the tournament.
Josko Gvardiol shows why Tottenham want him with Croatia masterclass
“Gvardiol is the best central defender in the world,” beamed an emotional Dalic at full-time. “He is so mature. The way he plays, with the grace he controls the ball. It’s amazing.”
Normally, we’d argue that Gvardiol’s Man of the Match performance during arguably the biggest game of his career so far would have piled a few more pounds onto his price-tag.
Unfortunately for current employers RB Leipzig, however, a £44 million release clause in his contract means the one-time Leeds United target feels destined to leave the Red Bull Arena for a fee that most would consider a ‘snip’.
Not that Gvardiol, a target for both Tottenham and Chelsea (The Telegraph), is in any rush to move on after just two years in Germany. According to his agent, the 20-year-old remains ‘very happy’ in Leipzig.
“He’s been solid. He’s got it all,” former Spurs midfielder Jermaine Jenas said during commentary duty for the BBC; highlighting Gvardiol’s expert positioning and his ability to turn defence into attack with those trademark marauding runs into midfield.
“When he comes out with the ball, he has the ability to go past people, to drive into midfield. He hits good passes, defends properly. He’s been brilliant. 20 years old; different class.”
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