Chelsea in talks with RB Leipzig over defender Josko Gvardiol

Chelsea are attempting to steal a march on their rivals in the pursuit of RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol.

Sportsmail understands the two clubs are in talks about a deal that will see Chelsea sign the highly-rated Croatia defender before Thursday’s transfer deadline but loan him back to the German side for the season ahead of his arrival at Stamford Bridge next summer.

Chelsea have been among the clubs to have shown an interest in the 20 year-old this summer along with the likes of Manchester City and Tottenham.

Gvardiol has featured prominently on the list of defenders Chelsea have been after but Leipzig have been adamant he is not for sale.

The Blues have not yet given up on signing him though and their purchase and loan back proposal is a compromise being worked on.

If Gvardiol joins Thomas Tuchel’s side it is expected he would be loaned back to RB Leipzig

In the meantime Chelsea have signed Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli, agreed a deal for Leicester’s Wesley Fofana and also added the versatile Marc Cucurella who can fill in as a left-sided centre back.

But their interest in Gvardiol remains.

Gvardiol joined Leipzig from Dinamo Zagreb for around £14 in September 2020, having previously been linked with Leeds, in a deal that made him the most expensive Croatian teenager ever.

Chelsea have been looking to overhaul their defence and have agreed to sign Wesley Fofana

He remained on loan at Dinamo for the rest of that season before linking up with Leipzig full-time last summer.

Gvardiol quickly established himself in the Leipzig team, developed impressively and played almost 50 games during 2021/22, helping Domenico Tedesco’s side finish fourth in the Bundesliga, win the German Cup and reach the Europa League semi-finals.

And his displays in Germany and Europe have led to him being tipped to eventually become one of the world’s leading centre-backs.