Chelsea won't be able to repeat their impressive transfer coup of Christopher Nkunku with fellow RB Leipzig star Josko Gvardiol. The Blues are looking to start a 2023 transfer splurge in January and have already moved ahead of the queue to reach a pre-agreement for Nkunku.
The Frenchman is currently injured after being withdrawn from Didier Deschamps' World Cup squad following a collision in training on the eve of the tournament but that hasn't stopped Todd Boehly from continuing to make significant progress with a deal. Nkunku is expected to join next summer after due diligence for a transfer was done earlier this year.
The 25-year-old only signed a contract extension over the summer but Chelsea moved quickly to complete a medical ahead of a possible transfer. Since then it is believed that the deal is all but done, and that Nkunku will be wearing blue next season.
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The same cannot be said for fellow Leipzig man Gvardiol. The Croatian centre-back was subject to a late bid from Chelsea over the summer but also signed an extended deal shortly after. Interest in him is just as high though, especially after a series of impressive performances in Qatar.
As an aggressive ball-playing defender, Gvardiol is seen as a replacement for Antonio Rudiger, but the Blues can't make plans for his availability just yet. His agent, Marjan Sisic, has explained his situation to Sky Germany, saying: "We are not in a hurry and I can make clear that there are no pre-agreements with any clubs."
Chelsea have also made moves to appoint former Leipzig director Christopher Vivell as part of a new recruitment team, too. Gvardiol could follow him to Stamford Bridge, but it won't be as easy a deal to complete as Nkunku has been.
Florian Plettenburg reports that, unlike Nkunku, there is no release clause in Gvardiol's contract, which lasts until 2027. There is also said to be further interest from Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid with nothing coming from Bayern Munich as yet following their deal to bring in Dayot Upamecano in 2021.
Thomas Tuchel made a big push for the World Cup quarter finalist during his time at SW6, and Potter is expected to continue the Blues' bid to bring the World Cup star to west London.
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