Chelsea’s defence is set for a major overhaul this summer with Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen both leaving the club next month. Both players are out of contract in June and their departures will leave a gaping hole in the Blues’ backline.
Thomas Tuchel will be keen to bolster his squad in the upcoming window and in particular his defensive options. A host of centre-backs have been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge to replace the aforementioned outgoing duo; and one such is name is RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol.
The 20-year-old would be a good replacement for Rudiger as both are left-footed and prefer to operate on the left of a back three. Gvardiol also possesses the ability to bring the ball out of defence and break midfield lines with surging runs into the opposition's half.
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The Croatia international is also strong in one-on-one situations and has been likened to Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk in his homeland. He is under contract at the Red Bull Arena until the summer of 2026, meaning Leipzig will be able to command a hefty fee for his services.
Gvardiol joined the Bundesliga side from Dinamo Zagreb last summer and has already established himself as a cornerstone of their starting line-up, making 45 appearances across all competitions this season. However, his impressive form and boundless potential has seen him linked with a host of European football’s elite clubs; and Leipzig could well be tempted to cash in on the prodigious talent.
With that said, is there a place for Gvardiol in Tuchel’s starting XI? Here, we take a look at how Chelsea could line up next season with the Croatian defender in the side:
GK: Edouard Mendy
RCB: Jules Kounde
CB: Trevoh Chalobah
LCB: Josko Gvardiol
RWB: Reece James
CM: N’Golo Kante
CM: Jorginho
LWB: Ben Chilwell
RW: Mason Mount
LW: Timo Werner
ST: Kai Havertz
