Stevie Nicol thinks Real Madrid shouldn’t be signing Liverpool and Chelsea transfer target Josko Gvardiol during the January transfer window, nor does he think the centre-back is worth ‘£100 million’, as he told ESPN.
The 20-year-old RB Leipzig defender was one of the players of the tournament as Croatia secured a third-placed finish at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, with the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and now Tottenham all hunting for his signature.
Prior to the World Cup, he was a player making a name for himself in the Champions League, so these recent performances have just elevated his status even further.
There will certainly be some World Cup tax added to his price-tag if he were to move in the winter and a few more million if a transfer tussle could ensue.
But, in terms of securing a transfer to the current European Cup holders – Real Madrid – Anfield legend, Nicol, wasn’t too sure.
“I wouldn’t pay upwards of £100 million for him,” said Nicol. “You have to kind of look at the van Dijk situation. He was £80 million and you are getting the finished product.
“You are getting in a guy that you know will step in tomorrow and just be the complete and utter leader. If you are going to spend £100 million on Gvardiol and you don’t actually need him, then you can’t do it. You can’t do it.
“I understand, the best teams are always looking to get better. But that seems a little too much over £100 million. I don’t believe he’s worth that. Yes, he’s a great defender, but not £100 million+ and Real Madrid don’t need him.”
WHO NEEDS GVARDIOL MORE?
It’s always a danger buying a player off the back of a World Cup because there is that extra hype around that player, which might not look as bright once the dust has settled.
Chelsea have just splashed big cash on centre-backs during the summer, yes, not under the stewardship of Graham Potter, but that investment has been made and surely that needs working on, rather than going into the market again.
For Liverpool, whilst Gvardiol would be a long-term project, perhaps an upgrade on the struggling Joe Gomez, once again, they have bigger fish to fry, such as sorting out their midfield.
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