Chelsea and RB Leipzig are in negotiations over a €90 million deal that would bring centre-back Josko Gvardiol to the Blues in 2023.
Chelsea’s defence have already benefited from the additions of Kalidou Koulibaly and Marc Cucurella, with Wesley Fofana set to follow in a £75 million deal. However, club officials are looking to the future and preparing for the inevitable departures of some of their older players.
Given that Koulibaly is 31 years old, Thiago Silva will turn 38 in September, and Cesar Azpilicueta recently turned 33, Chelsea’s defensive makeover is not yet complete.
Sources have confirmed that Chelsea believes they will need a new defender in 2023 and has concentrated their efforts on signing Gvardiol even though additional reinforcements are not anticipated this summer.
Before the focus shifted to Fofana this summer, the Croatian international Gvardiol was a target, but Leipzig refused to sell.
However, Chelsea’s interest has persisted, and the Blues are currently negotiating a deal to have Gvardiol finish the current season on loan with his current employers before moving to Stamford Bridge in 2023.
Both teams are believed to be confident that a deal will be reached soon. A fee of approximately €90 million (£77 million) has been discussed.
Levi Colwill, a graduate of the Chelsea academy currently playing on a season-long loan with Brighton without a buy option, will also join the club in 2023.
