Double Chelsea centre-back swoop as Blues eye Josko Gvardiol after Jules Kounde, with RB Leipzig stance revealed

Jules Kounde isn’t the only centre-back Chelsea want to sign this summer, as they are reportedly targeting Josko Gvardiol of RB Leipzig too.

Thomas Tuchel needs reinforcements in central defence as Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen prepare to leave. Rudiger has already agreed to join Real Madrid, while Christensen is on the verge of signing for Barcelona.

The pair have been reliable for Chelsea since Tuchel became manager in January last year. And the Blues defence will be far weaker if they are not replaced with top-class players.

Chelsea have been pursuing Sevilla’s Kounde for around 12 months. They have never been able to match his £68million asking price, although that could finally happen in the summer.

And the Frenchman could form a partnership with Gvardiol at the back if Chelsea move for the RB Leipzig star.

According to 90Min, Chelsea like the look of Gvardiol and are monitoring him ahead of a possible move later this year.

He is just 20 years old but is already a top performer for Leipzig and a 10-time Croatia international.

Gvardiol made 46 appearances for Leipzig in the recently concluded season, helping them finish fourth in the Bundesliga and win the DFB-Pokal.

Josko Gvardiol has huge potential

Gvardiol is on his way to becoming one of Europe’s best central defenders, which is why Chelsea are aiming to sign him.

Plus, he is a left-footed centre-half, which means he could form a solid partnership with Ben Chilwell next term.

However, there are a few obstacles in Chelsea’s path. Firstly, Leipzig want Gvardiol to stay, just like Manchester United-linked Konrad Laimer.

As such, they will put up a fight to keep Gvardiol at the Red Bull Arena. And with the youngster’s contract not expiring until 2026, the German side can command a large fee from Chelsea.

The report also provides an insight into how Gvardiol feels about a potential move. He is apparently wary of leaving Leipzig ahead of the Qatar World Cup, which starts in November.

Gvardiol has a regular starting spot at Leipzig, and the same could be said at Chelsea due to the impeding exits. But joining Chelsea may be a risk as the star wants to ensure he plays a key role for Croatia.

Gvardiol would clearly be an exceptional capture for the Blues. He has plenty of experience, despite his tender age, and has bags of potential.

But given the World Cup factor, Chelsea might have to wait until January before bringing him to England.

Meanwhile, Ian Wright has been speaking about N’Golo Kante and Romelu Lukaku’s futures at Chelsea.