RB Leipzig reply to Chelsea’s curiosity in Josko Gvardiol

RB Leipzig government Oliver Mintzlaff has warned Chelsea that they don’t have any plans to dump centre-back Josko Gvardiol.

After failing with a transfer for the Croatia worldwide earlier this summer season, Chelsea have opened talks with Leipzig over a £77m transfer which might see Gvardiol return to the Purple Bull Area for the rest of the 2022/23 season.

90min understands there’s a confidence that the deal will probably be accomplished within the close to future, however Mintzlaff has warned Chelsea that promoting Gvardiol shouldn’t be a part of Leipzig’s plans.

“Josko is a superb participant who will definitely arouse numerous curiosity – he nonetheless has a contract with us till 2026,” he stated. “We assume that he won’t solely play with us this season, but additionally subsequent season.”

Leipzig have made it clear to Chelsea that they don’t seem to be ready to promote Gvardiol this summer season – that was their stance even earlier than fellow defender Lukas Klostermann went below the knife to handle an ankle harm – however the Blues are hopeful of convincing them to promote subsequent 12 months as an alternative.

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Chelsea have spent the previous couple of months chasing Leicester’s Wesley Fofana, for whom three bids had been rejected earlier than a payment of over £75m was lastly agreed between the 2 golf equipment after weeks and weeks of difficult negotiations.

These in cost at Stamford Bridge are eager to keep away from an analogous drawn-out saga subsequent summer season, by which level Thiago Silva will probably be 38 and out of contract, so plans are being made now to line up Gvardiol’s arrival in 2023.

So far as this switch window is anxious, Chelsea are nonetheless hopeful of bringing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in from Barcelona, with Marcos Alonso shifting in the other way in a separate deal.

Talks are additionally on with Crystal Palace over Wilfried Zaha, who may very well be signed rather than Everton’s Anthony Gordon, for whom talks have stalled after a £60m bid was rejected.