Josko Gvardiol has opened up on his failed move to Chelsea in the summer but may have done himself some damage in the eyes of fans after revealing it isn't his dream club. Having chased him over the summer Gvardiol commited his future to RB Leipzig with a new long-term contract but has since gone on to dominate at the World Cup.
He is now one of the most in-demand centrebacks in the world and has gained the attention of Real Madrid and Manchester City for his outstanding displays. As a 21-year-old left-footed defender he mirrors the profile of player that Chelsea just signed with Benoit Badiashile.
The Frenchman has joined from Monaco this month for around £35m, at least half of the what was being offered for Gvardiol. With increased competition for the Bundesliga man he has opened up on the next steps in his career, explaining what went wrong for Chelsea over the summer.
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Speaking to Danas, he said: "They [Chelsea] did not give up, but it was agreed that we would go for the winter. Winter has come, so we need to see what and how to proceed, but it's okay, there's still plenty of time, we'll see." Chelsea have set their stall on Badiashile this month and are also chasing Enzo Fernandez from Benfica in a big money deal of his own.
This combination makes it unlikely that a deal for Gvardiol will be achieved but it doesn't stop them from doing the groundwork ahead of a summer push for him once more. That opens up the chances for some of Europe's top clubs to come calling though. When asked about Manchester City's interest Gvardiol was coy, saying, "Of course I'm glad. I am also happy for the club to achieve something big.
"I'm not in a hurry, I'm in Leipzig, we still have 6 months to finish the season properly and to win something. And then we will look further to the future." It's Liverpool that caught his eye though and his admisson that the Reds were his favourite boyhood club may not go down well with Chelsea fans if he was to move.
When asked who a younger version of himself would pick to play for there was little hesitation in the answer. "That would definitely be Liverpool. Since I was little, I watched a lot of Liverpool matches with my dad, and we covered every season in detail. It is a club that has remained in my heart."
Jurgen Klopp's men don't appear to be in the running for Gvardiol which may well upset him but the prospect of a move to England is still on. If Chelsea did say that they would be back in the winter then this move could be one to an eye on regardless of Badiashile's move.
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