Chelsea had plenty of ambition to replenish their central defensive ranks during Todd Boehly's first summer in charge of the Blues' transfer window. Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen departed while Kalidou Koulibaly and Wesley Fofana were signed for significant fees.
They were not the only targets in the US owner's plans however. The Blues had held discussions with RB Leipzig and put forward tentative proposals before Josko Gvardiol eventually signed a contract extension with the Bundesliga side through until 2027. It would have taken another package in excess of £70million to land the 20-year-old defender, and that figure will not have reduced.
National teammate Mateo Kovacic revealed he had been asked Gvardiol's qualities and provided a good review, and with Thiago Silva's future uncertain, the Blues could yet find themselves in the market for another defender as Chelsea's new ownership look to continue on their path of meshing the brightest prospects around Europe with the club's own academy stars.
