Chelsea have been dealt a huge blow to their hopes of signing Josko Gvardiol this summer as RB Leipzig begin to play hardball. The 21-year-old was heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge in the summer but a deal collapsed after he decided to sign a contract extension at the Red Bull Arena instead.
football.london understand that the Blues remain interested in Gvardiol despite having signed three centre-backs across the previous two transfer windows; Kalidou Koulibaly and Wesley Fofana in the summer as well as Benoit Badiashile in January. With Thiago Silva in the latter stages of his career, Chelsea are aware that the Croatia international is somebody who will become world-class in years to come.
It's said that the west Londoners are long-admirers of Gvardiol and have kept tabs on his development since he first made a name for himself at Dinamo Zagreb. After impressing at the World Cup, interest in the youngster's signature has only grown so acquiring the youngster's signature could prove to be a difficult task.
