Todd Boehly has already been told why Chelsea must complete the signing of Josko Gvardiol in the upcoming transfer window. The 20-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this season following Thomas Tuchel's eagerness to undergo a rebuild, with a defensive exodus on the cards.
Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen are both set to leave the club in the coming weeks once their contracts expire. And, to compensate for their departures, it's believed that the Blues boss is keen to bring in two centre-halves this summer.
So, in April, the west Londoners identified the RB Leipzig defender as a target, according to Sky Sports. The youngster, who sees his contract at the Red Bull Arena expire in 2026, has enjoyed an exciting breakthrough campaign in the Bundesliga, featuring 29 times for the German side across the backline.
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Gvardiol, who is currently valued between £75million and £100million by CIES Football Observatory, has become a staple in the Croatia national team, emerging as one of Europe's most promising centre-backs amid sparkling displays for his club. He reportedly has no release clause in his deal with RB Leipzig, and is said to be 'totally happy' in Germany.
According to a report from 90Min, Chelsea are just 'keeping tabs' on the defender at this stage, though a report from Croatia claimed that Gvardiol's father flew to London recently to discuss a possible move to Stamford Bridge with head coach Tuchel. The Croatian has reportedly been eyed as a perfect replacement for Rudiger, who looks set to join Real Madrid this summer.
Gvardiol is a left-footed defender who is very comfortable when in possession. He's built a reputation for his composure in possession and ability to progress the ball through the thirds from deep - he's the epitome of the all-encompassing modern centre-back.
And, it's no surprise why former head coach of GNK Dinamo Zagreb has lauded the youngster for his unique ability. Speaking to Scouted Football, Zoran Mamić detailed why Gvardiol could be perfect for Tuchel's back-three philosophy: "With his abilities, in every league, something different is the most important.
"He has all of it. If he goes to Germany, he can play high; he can play dynamic football when you go up and down all the time. For example, they play with three centre-backs because they play 3-5-2 in Germany. He can play that."
Mamić added by explaining how Gvardiol could be an excellent option for Chelsea in both the Premier League and Champions League, where many varieties of play-style can be found. He said: "In Spain, possession football is important, to be good on the ball, and he has that also. If he goes to England, he is a kid of course.
"His body is stronger but still is a kid. But he can adapt to anything. He is a hard worker, no problem with injuries. Everything comes easy to him. He makes things which aren’t easy look easy. It’s natural. He is never tired.
"He is the type of talent that is impossible to keep a secret. For me, he has the ability to take out the best of the world’s best defenders.”
