Rio Ferdinand and Owen Hargreaves have heaped great praise on Chelsea target Josko Gvardiol. The 20-year-old was heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge in the summer but a deal collapsed after he decided to pen a new five-year deal with the German giants instead.
football.london understands that the Blues still hold an interest in Gvardiol, though RB Leipzig do not want to sell the highly-rated defender. However, after impressing for Croatia at the World Cup, interest in his signature has only grown so holding onto the Croatia international could prove to be a difficult task as a number of top European clubs line up a move in the summer.
Speaking on BT Sport, Hargreaves branded Gvardiol as the 'best young centre back in the world' ahead of Manchester City's visit to the Red Bull Arena in the Champions League round of 16 first-leg. The former Manchester United and Bayern Munich midfielder said: "Best young centre back in the world — the first time I saw him I thought this guy can’t be this good.
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"Technically and physically on the ball he can come out with it, he dribbles as a centre back. I know you don’t really want that but the guy has everything.
"Whoever’s going to get him, because you know he’s going to go somewhere, he is gonna give somebody a really special player. Obviously coming up against [Erling] Haaland tonight, it’s almost the perfect match-up."
Signing from the same hymn sheet, Ferdinand agreed. The former United defender insisted that the £114million-rated youngster has everything it takes to be a 'top, top player'.
"He is," replied Ferdinand, when asked if Gvardiol is the 'best young centre back in the world'. "I watched him closely at the World Cup and he was magnificent.
"At the Euros he played left back, previously for Croatia and he was very good and competent there, but his composure was what stood out for me. His stature as a big and quick defender in the modern game, he’s got all the attributes that you need and his temperament is the thing that stands out for me.
"To be a top, top player you can have all the attributes, but the temperament in the big moments, he’s very calm."
Chelsea supposedly almost signed Gvardiol in the summer. In May, a report from Croatia said that the defender's father flew to London to discuss a possible move to Stamford Bridge with former boss Thomas Tuchel.
A deal failed to materialise and the Blues have since signed Kalidou Koulibaly, Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile. Graham Potter also has the highly-rated Levi Colwill returning to Cobham in the summer from Brighton on loan.
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