Chelsea continue to be pushed forward for Joško Gvardiol after RB Leipzig turned down their offer in the last transfer window.
On November 30th, Alfredo Pedullà reported the Blues will do everything to sign the defender.
The 20-year-old’s fans have increased after his fine displays for Croatia at the World Cup. Along with Chelsea, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona are named as contenders.
Gvardiol has been vital in helping his country make it to the quarter-final, where they will face Brazil. The Croatia international is the product of Dinamo Zagreb’s youth system and his former coach, Igor Jovićević, is not surprised with his form in Qatar.
“I understand that people are surprised, but those of us who have known him closely for more than three years have stopped being surprised. The World Cup, for Joško, is one more day at the office,” Jovićević told Marca.
“He was 16 years old and was already playing in the second division. We quickly realised that he was going to be a top centre-back. He had a personality inappropriate for his age.
“He reminds me of Sergio Ramos. If he fails, he gets up like nothing happened. I am a coach who is committed to young people. If you see a player with that potential you have to die with him, even if the price is that you get kicked out. Time has proved me right. Every time I see him play, I feel gratitude.”
When asked to detail the Chelsea target’s qualities, Jovićević explained: “He had total command of the game. He was physically strong and made decisions effortlessly. You could see what you see now: a solid defender, smart, who anticipates well and who is very strong in the clash.
“Some people told me he wasn’t doing well with headers and had trouble turning. My answer was clear: ‘Wake up because if you do not sign him know you will never sign him’.”
Jovićević has also hailed the Bundelsiga side for rejecting a lucrative offer from Chelsea in the last transfer window and backed Leipzig to break records with Gvardiol’s sale in the future.
“They already rejected €80m from Chelsea. If Leipzig presses, he can go up to €100m, which would make him the most expensive defender in history,” he stressed.
