Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool are chasing Josko Gvardiol – weeks after Chelsea’s interest left the RB Leipzig defender feeling ‘confused’.
Gvardiol was one of the stars of the World Cup having excelled in the heart of Croatia’s back line.
Yet anybody who watches the Bundesliga will already know just how good Gvardiol is – and how good he can become.
Quick, comfortable on the ball and incredibly strong, Gvardiol looks the total package at centre back.
Add in that Gvardiol is naturally left-footed – something highly-coveted in the modern game – and you can understand the clamour for his signature.
Rudy Galetti claims that there are more and more noises that Liverpool are pushing to sign Gvardiol for around £80million this summer.
Gvardiol admitted in January that Liverpool would be his ‘dream’ move having grown up supporting the Reds.
Yet it was Chelsea who really wanted Gvardiol in the final days of the January transfer window.
The Croatian star has told The Times that he was ‘really confused’ because his mind was initially on staying with Leipzig.
Chelsea came calling and that turned Gvardiol’s head a little, admitting that he ‘really struggled’ with Leipzig’s decision not to sell.
“Phwoar, I was confused,” said Gvardiol. “I was really confused because one month before the window starts I was upstairs with the sporting director and he says, ‘Yeah Josko, we are not going to sell you, we need you, we believe in you,’ and I was like ok I am fine with this, I can stay here, I like it here, all I need is to work on myself, to play, to win something else. It was like this until the last two days.”
“My agent called me and said that Chelsea is extremely interested and, of course, you definitely think about a serious offer from a huge club like Chelsea. Leipzig said they didn’t want to sell me. In the end I really struggled with that decision but we didn’t make an agreement. It is what it is. I am here and I am fine with this because my idea had been to stay here. One season was not enough. This is my second season, even one more season would be great but we will see,” he added.
Liverpool have hope of beating Chelsea to Josko Gvardiol
If Liverpool really do want Gvardiol then they may well have a chance to pip Chelsea here.
The Blues moved on and signed another left-sided centre back in January as Benoit Badiashile arrived in a big-money move from Monaco.
Chelsea could go for Gvardiol still – after all, they did make a late move – but their need for a left-sided centre back has been eased by Badiashile’s arrival.
That could just open the door for Liverpool to swoop in and give Gvardiol a big proposal to make the move to Merseyside.
Gvardiol’s love for Liverpool is clear and he would provide both an instant impact and a long-lasting solution at the back.
Liverpool don’t have a natural left-footer at centre back and that could prompt a big move for Gvardiol.
Chelsea may well try again but Liverpool must now move forward to lay the groundwork for a summer transfer.
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