Thomas Tuchel are keeping close tabs on RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol with the Chelsea boss a big admirer of the Croatian international, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.
Tuchel has been on the hunt in the transfer window this summer for another centre-back to add to the capture of Kalidou Koulibaly as the Chelsea head coach attempts to overhaul his backline ahead of the new season’s kick-off.
RB Leipzig’s highly promising centre-back Gvardiol has been linked with a move to the English capital with the 21-year-old impressing his suitors with a stellar run of displays in German top flight football last term.
With Chelsea suffering back-to-back setbacks in their efforts to sign Paris Saint-Germain mainstay Presnel Kimpembe and Sevilla’s Jules Kounde, the latter of whom has now signed for Barcelona, the west Londoners are likely to look at alternatives in the market.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano has claimed that Gvardiol has found an admirer in Tuchel who is keen to move in for the Bundesliga talent despite a rumoured price tag of £76 million put on the player’s head by Leipzig.
“Gvardiol is one of the top names on [Chelsea’s] list — Thomas Tuchel is in love with this player.
“Let me say that he’s option number one in the list, but as of today, the situation on Leipzig’s side is still the same — they have no intention at all to sell Gvardiol this summer. So, it is going to be more than complicated.
“For Fofana, it’s difficult, but you can negotiate. For Gvardiol, it’s not even the case. He’s considered untouchable by Leipzig, so Chelsea would need a miracle to sign Gvardiol.”
