Gvardiol struggled after failing to get a move to west London in the summer (Picture: Getty)
Josko Gvardiol has suggested he wants to follow RB Leipzig teammate Christopher Nkunku to Chelsea and ‘struggled’ after failing to get his move to Stamford Bridge last summer.
Chelsea were eager to sign the Croatia international during the summer and reportedly saw a huge bid of £77million rejected by Leipzig in the final days of the window.
Leipzig refused to sell however, with Gvardiol going onto enjoy a superb World Cup campaign where his reputation grew further after a string of excellent displays in Qatar.
In an interview with The Times, the 21-year-old explained he was initially comfortable with Leipzig’s decision to keep him at the club for another season.
But interest from Chelsea in late August left him unsettled with a move to the Premier League his goal later down the line.
‘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,’ and 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,’ he said.
‘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.
Nkunku is set to join Chelsea in the summer (Picture: Getty)
‘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 have already done business with Leipzig this season having agreed a deal to sign Nkunku this summer in a deal for a reported £52million.
Having played alongside the ‘unbelievable’ Frenchman, Gvardiol is eager to continue playing alongside him.
‘I have never seen before a player like Christoph, he is unbelievable,’ Gvardiol said.
‘Every time I talk with someone about him I always say wherever he goes I want to go with him.’
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It will be another huge summer at Stamford Bridge.
