RB Leipzig centre-back Josko Gvardiol has admitted he has recently spoken to Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola as Europe's elite clubs line up to attempt a summer swoop. Despite these talks, the Croatian international, who only turned 21 in January, warned he does not expect to leave the German club at the end of this season.
Chelsea are one of a number of clubs monitoring the defender's situation, football.london understands, despite having signed three centre-halves since Todd Boehly bought the club last May. It's said the west Londoners are long-admirers of the youngster and have kept tabs on his development since he was plying his trade for Dinamo Zagreb.
After impressing for Croatia at the World Cup, interest in Gvardiol's signature has only grown so holding onto him could prove to be a difficult task for Leipzig. The plethora of clubs keen to take the youngster will lead to his current club demanding an astronomical fee, such is the level of excitement surrounding his future.
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Nevertheless, the Croatian insists Leipzig have no intentions of letting him go. "The club is not interested in selling me this summer," Gvardiol told Net HR.
"So there is no point in talking about anything else. The most important thing is to end this season in Leipzig in the best possible way."
The 21-year-old started both legs of Leipzig's recent Champions League last-16 clash with Manchester City and scored his side's only goal across the two-legs in Germany. While City hammered their opposition in the second-leg, winning 7-0 at the Etihad Stadium, Gvardiol has admitted he had a discussion with Pep Guardiola after that match.
However, he has refused to go into specific details regarding what was shared between the two parties. The Croatian added: "I extended my hand to Guardiola in the Champions League. I congratulated him on going through. Guardiola, a great coach, threw a few words at me. But I will keep them to myself."
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