Talented 20-year-old centre-back Josko Gvardiol could be available for as little as £43.6m this summer as Chelsea plot a double swoop having already secured RB Leipzig teammate Christopher Nkunku, according to reports.
It was reported earlier that the Blues have agreed to pay over Nkunku’s £52m release clause to secure his services next summer ahead of the likes of Liverpool, with the Frenchman having already undergone a medical last summer to prepare for the move.
Now, they could be doubling down on RB Leipzig exports, with Gvardiol chief among their targets to strengthen their defence. A dialogue was opened last summer around a potential 90m euro move, but the defender, who openly stated he was happy to stay, penned a new deal until 2027 instead of making a move on deadline day.
However, it has now emerged that there could have been a catch, with the Telegraph reporting that the new offer included a release clause set at as little as £43.6m, a bafflingly low amount when the aforementioned 90m euro bid is taken into consideration.
“Chelsea will try to complete a double raid on RB Leipzig by bringing defender Josko Gvardiol to Stamford Bridge”, they report, before adding that they “have already held advanced talks with Leipzig about signing the 20-year-old, who is rated as one of Europe’s best defensive prospects.”
While the club have shelled out on three new defenders already since Todd Boehly arrived in June, two of whom were added for in excess of £50m, there is the expectation that more reinforcements will be needed, with Thiago Silva now 38 years old and Kalidou Koulibaly signed as more of a short term option.
