Chelsea warned that they will kick themselves if they do not sign Josko Gvardiol
Speaking to GGRecon (h/t Football.London), former Chelsea defender Glen Johnson believes that the Blues will be kicking themselves if they do not sign Croatia international Josko Gvardiol.
Gvardiol, the centre-back who has had an excellent World Cup despite that moment when Lionel Messi bamboozled him in the semi-final, is currently playing for RB Leipzig.
Chelsea wanted to sign the 20-year-old in the preceding summer window, but could not make the move materialise as he penned a new five-year deal with the German club. Since then, the Blues have been linked with him, but joined by both Manchester clubs and Real Madrid.
Here’s what Johnson said when asked about this issue (h/t Football.London):
“Yes, definitely. They could have signed him under the radar last summer and now he’s performing brilliantly at the World Cup, with the eyes of everyone on him.
“By Chelsea not getting the deal done, his performances will have woken up a lot of other clubs who didn’t realise just how good he was. I definitely believe that Chelsea will be kicking themselves and they’re going to have a much harder task of signing him now.”
After seeing how good Gvardiol has been, not just in the World Cup, but in club football in the last 12 months, one can imagine how vital he would be at any time in the coming years.
The thing to note is that he is still only 20 and already has the qualities of an experienced centre-back. So, he is offering quality and longevity to the club.
Chelsea are potentially looking at a long-term replacement for veteran centre-back Thiago Silva, who is 38 now and may not go on forever. Moreover, his contract at Stamford Bridge expires next summer (Transfermarkt), with no agreement on an extension yet.
We are also considering a move for Inter Milan centre-back Milan Skriniar. But, what Gvardiol offers is something unique. He is one of the few left-footed centre-backs who are at an elite level in terms of quality and application in the game
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The 20-year-old could easily fit in our three-man central defence and hold the centre or left-hand side by himself. He is good at charging up with the ball, something you can do with the security of two centre-backs behind. So, it feels as if it would be a missed opportunity if we fail to sign Gvardiol.