Chelsea: £43.6m star 'high on transfer list' after Nkunku at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea have RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol high on their list, believes journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Blues are reportedly focusing on signing his team-mate Christopher Nkunku right now, but O’Rourke thinks Gvardiol’s name has also come up in the discussions between the two clubs.

According to The Telegraph, Chelsea want to bring both Gvardiol and Nkunku to Stamford Bridge.

Regarding the former, the same outlet states that he has a release clause in his contract, which is thought to be set at £43.6m.

Chelsea were extremely busy in the last transfer window, bringing in the likes of Raheem Sterling and Wesley Fofana for big money.

However, it does not look like the west London club are going to stop their spending there.

O’Rourke is certain that Gvardiol is a primary target for Chelsea and thinks the fact that they are already talking to Leipzig about Nkunku could help them in their pursuit of the Croatian.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the journalist said: “It helps that the two clubs are negotiating over Nkunku. I’m sure Gvardiol has come up in conversations, and he is a long-term target for Chelsea. They tried to sign him in the summer transfer window, so I’m sure he remains pretty high on their list as well right now.”

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Chelsea could probably do with adding another young centre-half to their squad. Thiago Silva has just turned 38, Cesar Azpilicueta is 33 and Kalidou Koulibaly is 31.

Gvardiol, on the other hand, is just 20. With him playing alongside Wesley Fofana, 21, the Blues could be set for years in central defence.

In terms of what he would bring to the Stamford Bridge pitch, Gvardiol is a centre-back