Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has insisted that Chelsea are still interested in Josko Gvardiol but has pointed to difficulties they may face while aiming to secure his signature.
The Blues approached RB Leipzig late in the summer transfer window with a €90m (£77.1m) offer for the centre-back.
Chelsea’s plan was to sign the 20-year-old but let the German club keep hold of their player until the end of the season.
Nevertheless, no such move materialised and the Croatian starlet subsequently signed a contract extension with Die Roten Bullen until 2027.
Romano has now taken to Twitter to clairfy that the west Londoners will revisit a move for Gvardiol next summer but they could have opposition.
He posted: ‘RB Leipzig turned down Chelsea bid for Josko Gvardiol on Deadline week [it was for summer 2023] as they’re convinced other clubs will join the race next summer, including Man City.
‘New deal until 2027 but Chelsea are still there and the race is absolutely open.’
Leipzig’s logic will undoubtedly hold true given their prized asset’s credentials.
A candidate for Tuttosport’s 2022 Golden Boy award, the 10-cap Croatia starlet has been labelled as ‘one of the greatest European defensive talents’ by Leipzig’s sporting director Markus Krosche.
It will be interesting to see if Todd Boehly decides to get involved in the race this time next year having already spent £75m on rising talent Wesley Fofana, but perhaps a change in the dugout with Graham Potter at the helm may change their approach.
