Transfer Centre

Chelsea-linked Josko Gvardiol rules out RB Leipzig exit

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 09 January 2023

RB Leipzig centre-back Josko Gvardiol, who continues to be heavily linked with Chelsea, says that he is happy to remain with his current side.

RB Leipzig centre-back Josko Gvardiol has said that he is happy to remain with his current side amid the ongoing speculation surrounding his future.

Chelsea attempted to sign the 20-year-old last summer, and the Blues are said to still be firmly interested in a deal for the Croatia international in 2023.

There have also been claims that Manchester United, Manchester City and Real Madrid are keen on the youngster, who has a contract with Leipzig until June 2027.

However, the Bundesliga side's director of sport Max Eberl said at the weekend that the club were not considering selling him this year.

"We are not interested in giving up Josko Gvardiol in the summer," Eberl told reporters.

Croatia's Josko Gvardiol pictured at the World Cup on December 9, 2022 © Reuters

Gvardiol has now told Sky Deutschland that he is planning to stay with Leipzig.

"My plan is that I stay here. I think everyone has seen Max Eberl's statement. I'm okay with that," said the Croatian when he was asked about his future.

The defender recently revealed that he 'dreamed' of playing for Liverpool when he was a child.

"That would definitely be Liverpool. Since I was little, I watched a lot of Liverpool matches with my dad and we covered every season in detail. It is a club that has remained in my heart," he told RTLDanas.

"I'm not in a hurry. I'm at Leipzig and we still have six months to finish the season and to win something. And then we will look further to the future.

RB Leipzig's Josko Gvardiol pictured on January 23, 2022 © Reuters

"Last summer a transfer was close and they simply kept me. I hope to spend these six months with them [Leipzig]. Chelsea did not give up, but it was agreed that we would go for the winter.

"Winter has come, so we need to see what and how to proceed, but it's okay, there's still plenty of time, so we'll see. Nobody presented anything to me. But I'm not in a hurry, we have time, let them arrange the plan and we'll see."

Gvardiol was in impressive form for Croatia at the 2022 World Cup, helping his country reach the semi-finals of the competition before scoring in the third-place playoff with Morocco.

The defender has also made 19 appearances for Leipzig during the 2022-23 campaign, with 13 of those outings coming in Germany's top flight.

Despite the recent statements, Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano tweeted on Sunday that 'everything is pointing towards a potential summer transfer'.