Chelsea in talks over signing RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol after £77.4m bid

Chelsea are in advanced talks with RB Leipzig to buy the centre-back Josko Gvardiol. They have offered about €90m (£77.4m) and the clubs are negotiating a deal under which the Croatia international would stay at Leipzig this season and move to Stamford Bridge next summer.

Gvardiol, who joined Leipzig from Dinamo Zagreb in 2020, can also fill in at left-back. The 20-year-old’s pursuit is part of Chelsea’s attempt to rebuild their central defence after losing Antonio Rüdiger and Andreas Christensen and with Thiago Silva, who will be 38 next month, out of contract next summer.

Kalidou Koulibaly has joined from Napoli and Wesley Fofana’s move from Leicester for £75m, including add-ons, should be confirmed on Wednesday. Wout Faes is in line to join Leicester from Reims to replace Fofana. The 24-year-old Belgium international had been a target for Torino, who had a bid turned down.

Chelsea continued talks with Barcelona on Tuesday in the hope of reaching an agreement to sign the former Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Discussions have also featured Marcos Alonso, who wants to join the Catalan club and has agreed personal terms.

Callum Hudson-Odoi has completed his move to Bayer Leverkusen on a season’s loan from Chelsea.