JOSKO GVARDIOL isn’t short of options when it comes to choosing his next club as Chelsea and Tottenham battle for his signature.
The RB Leipzig defender has been long sought after by Premier League clubs after his breakthrough year last season.
Now after playing a crucial part in Croatia’s third place finish at the World Cup, the 20-year-old’s already hefty price tag has since increased further.
Chelsea seemed favourites to finalise a move for the highly rated centre back yet it seems as though London rivals Tottenham could swoop in and steal the deal.
According to Bild, the competition from Spurs hasn’t deterred the Blues with Graham Potter’s side still keen on Gvardiol.
The London sides will need to empty their pockets if they want their man however, with Gvardiol signing his allegiance to RB Leipzig until 2027 last September.
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The contract states that a release clause of £112million will become active in 2024, meaning Leipzig will be asking for even more before the clause can be activated next year.
This will see Gvardiol become the most expensive defender in history, beating the record set by Harry Maguire when he made his £87million move from Leicester to Manchester United in 2019.
If the Croat does make the move to Stamford Bridge, he will be the fourth big named defender to have been recruited by Chelsea since July.
With Kalidou Koulibaly and Wesley Fofana joining the two-time Champions League winners in summer followed by the recent signing of Benoit Badiashile, Chelsea’s defence has seen a complete overhaul.
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Despite this, the Blues defence has seen a decline from last season, conceding 19 goals in 17 league games so far, seven more than this time last season.
The addition of Gvardiol could see him fill the void of the ageing Thiago Silva, with the Croat’s playing style similar to that of the 38-years-old.
However neither Chelsea or Tottenham have approached Leipzig as far over a move for Gvardiol.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
