Josko Gvardiol has decided to renew his contract at RB Leipzig amid interest from Chelsea ahead of the transfer deadline.
The Blues have already signed Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, Marc Cucurella, Wesley Fofana, Carney Chukwuemeka and Gabriel Slonina so far this summer but owner Todd Boehly seems keen to add a couple more names to that list before the deadline.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang looks likely to return to the Premier League with Chelsea after a £6.8m deal plus Marcos Alonso is close to being agreed with Barcelona.
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The Blues are also likely to buy a new defensive midfielder with Ajax’s Edson Alvarez and PSV Eindhoven’s Ibrahim Sangare both heavily linked with a switch to Stamford Bridge.
One player who won’t be arriving at Chelsea – who have swooped for Leicester City’s Wesley Fofana – before the deadline is Leipzig’s Gvardiol.
The Croatia international has signed a new contract with RB Leipzig until 2027 after Chelsea held negotiations earlier in the transfer window.
On renewing his contract with the Bundesliga club, Gvardiol commented: “I’m very happy to have extended the contract early until 2027, because I still want to achieve a lot with RB Leipzig.
“I feel the club’s confidence to continue my development. We’re in the Champions League again, won the DFB Cup last year and want to play for titles again this year.
“I am very grateful to those responsible at the club that they plan long-term with me and want to continue on this successful path with me.”
It has been claimed that initial discussions started over a fee worth around €70m with Chelsea before Leipzig apparently moved the goalposts to €80m and then €90m.
One player who could leave Chelsea – but not before the summer transfer deadline – is Mason Mount with The Athletic reporting that the England international is ‘wanted’ by ‘three of the biggest clubs in England’.
Chelsea have now ‘opened talks’ with Mount and team-mate Reece James, who is also attracting interest, this time from Manchester City and Real Madrid.
The Athletic adds: ‘Chelsea want to secure their long-term futures at Stamford Bridge and have begun discussions over contracts that will last for several years.’
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