Chelsea joined by Man City in Josko Gvardiol transfer race with RB Leipzig star seen as Aymeric Laporte replacement
MANCHESTER CITY have joined Chelsea in the race to sign RB Leipzig centre-back Josko Gvardiola, according to reports.
The Croatian defender, 21, was heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge last summer and during the January transfer window following a stellar World Cup.
He was one of the standout performers in Qatar, helping his country to reach the semi-finals for a second successive time.
And his impressive displays saw Chelsea eye up a £45million move.
However, they ended up landing Monaco man Benoit Badiashile for £35m and could now miss out on Gvardiol altogether.
According to The Star, Man City are lining him up as a replacement for Aymeric Laporte.
Spaniard Laporte, 28, is being linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season.
He still has two years left on his existing deal, but the arrival of Manuel Akanji has limited his game time at the Etihad.
He has started just six Premier League games in the 2022/23 campaign.
And Pep Guardiola is understood to be an admirer of Gvardiol – who scored for Leipzig against Man City in the Champions League last month.
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But he is now expected to set clubs back around £60m after he penned an extension until 2027 at the beginning of the season – which includes a £97m release clause.
Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Real Madrid are all other potential destinations for Gvardiol.
He has made 75 appearances for the Bundesliga side since arriving from Dinamo Zagreb in 2020.