Chelsea have reportedly reignited their interest in RB Leipzig centre-back Josko Gvardiol following their failed attempts to sign him last summer.
The Croatia international has quickly emerged as one of the most sought-after centre-backs in Europe after going from strength to strength at the Red Bull Arena.
Gvardiol's breakthrough at club level earned him a place in Croatia's squad for the 2022 World Cup, and his stock rose further following a string of imperious showings in Qatar.
A regular of Zlatko Dalic's backline, Gvardiol was a driving force in Croatia's run to the bronze medal, playing every minute and scoring in their third-placed playoff win over Morocco.
Prior to his stellar World Cup campaign, the 21-year-old was persistently linked with a move to Chelsea in the summer transfer window, but the Blues instead struck deals for Kalidou Koulibaly and Wesley Fofana after being rebuffed in their approaches.
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However, speculation surrounding Gvardiol's future is starting to intensify once more, with Real Madrid, Liverpool and Manchester United all tipped to do battle for his services.
According to The Times, Chelsea are also back in the picture, but interested parties must move quickly to get a deal done this summer before a £97m release clause comes into effect in 2024.
Chelsea have supposedly been keeping tabs on Gvardiol since his days as a teenager at Dinamo Zagreb, who he left in 2021 to join Leipzig, and his contract at the Red Bull Arena runs until 2027.
Gvardiol has four goals and four assists under his belt from 74 games in a Leipzig shirt, including the equaliser in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with Manchester City last week.
Gvardiol recently spoke to The Times about Chelsea's interest in him during the summer of 2022, during which he confirmed his desire to play in the Premier League after rejecting a move to Leeds United in 2021.
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"I had two options, between Leeds and Leipzig. [Marcelo] Bielsa was the coach and I don't know if you know this but my goal in my career is to play in the Premier League," the defender said.
"I knew that I needed to take a few steps more before I get [to the Premier League] one day. At the end Leipzig is a really good club and I feel good here. It's important I play almost every game.
"I was really confused because one month before the window starts I was upstairs with the sporting director and he says, 'Yeah Josko, we are not going to sell you, we need you, we believe in you'.
"I was like 'ok I am fine with this, I can stay here, I like it here, all I need is to work on myself, to play, to win something else,' It was like this until the last two days. My agent called me and said that Chelsea is extremely interested and, of course, you definitely think about a serious offer from a huge club like Chelsea.
"Leipzig said they didn't want to sell me. In the end I really struggled with that decision but we didn't make an agreement. It is what it is. I am here and I am fine with this because my idea had been to stay here. One season was not enough. This is my second season, even one more season would be great but we will see."
Chelsea are already set to poach Christopher Nkunku from Leipzig this summer, but Roten Bullen boss Marco Rose is expecting Gvardiol to remain at the club for the 2023-24 campaign.
