Chelsea may be rueing their failure to sign Josko Gvardiol over the summer more and more each day as new competitors emerge for the 20-year-old star. He has been one of the standout defenders from the World Cup so far as Croatia prepare to face Argentina in the semi-final on Tuesday, and his price tag is surely only rising.
Gvardiol was thought to be close to joining the Blues in the last window when a deal was agreed with the player only for him to sign a new deal keeping him at RB Leipzig until 2027. His release clause isn't thought to be active until at least 2026.
Now, with an extra four months of experience and the eyes of the watching footballing world upon him in Qatar, Gvardiol is the talk of the town, and there's visitors having a look around. Chelsea are no longer in command of this deal and face competition from both Manchester City and Real Madrid.
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The European champions have already dealt Todd Boehly a blow this year after signing Antonio Rudiger on a free before also securing previous Chelsea target David Alaba in the same circumstances. Madrid have a good mixture of experience and youth in their backline already with Ferland Mendy and Eder Militao, but Gvardiol is seen as a jewel of world football.
With Chelsea wanting their own defence to be that secure, Gvardiol was seen as a long-term prospect and a short-term improvement, however, Pep Guardiola has other plans, and according to Foot Mercato, the Spanish manager has taken it upon himself to convince Gvardiol that City is the team to join.
It is also stated that the Premier League champions would be prepared to make him the most expensive defender in the world, with a bid worth over £90million on the table. As Chelsea were willing to do over the summer, City are reportedly also prepared to buy him now but let him rejoin Leipzig for the rest of the season.
Chelsea already have a pre-agreement with Christopher Nkunku wityh the Bundesliga side after getting in on the Frenchman before others could snap him up, but their failure to do the same with Gvardiol has resulted in a true fight, and it's one they may not win.
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