Liverpool's rumoured interest in RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol may have been explored with talks in January, according to a new report.
The Croatian centre-back, who put in several solid World Cup performances in Qatar, has been linked with a move to Chelsea and Manchester City as well has the Reds. But an update on the player's situation from journalist Fabrizio Romano (as per football.london) potentially sheds new light on just how interested in landing the 21-year-old Jurgen Klopp really is.
It is claimed that Liverpool approached Leipzig for talks about the availability of Gvardiol in January, but were told that he was not available.
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Speaking in his YouTube Daily Briefing, Romano said: "Liverpool approach Leipzig in January to understand the conditions of the deal and it was almost impossible to sign Gvardiol in January. But Liverpool have have an interest in Josko Gvardiol, he is a player they are pursuing, but let me say, Manchester City are absolutely in the race to. Everything is open at this moment."
Gvardiol is known to have been a supporter of the Reds as a boy, stating in a recent interview that that club is 'still in his heart'. But he has also expressed a desire to play for Real Madrid at some point in his career.
Liverpool currently have four senior centre-backs in their squad with Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez on the books, as well as Nat Phillips, but as Klopp looks to shake up his squad this summer, the arrival of a new centre-back that can put pressure on others to perform cannot be ruled out.
Gvardiol played in all seven of Croatia's World Cup matches, scoring in the third-place play-off match against Morocco.
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