Josko Gvardiol: RB Leipzig manager makes defiant transfer statement
By Tom Gott
RB Leipzig manager Marco Rose has insisted that centre-back Josko Gvardiol is not for sale this summer.
The 21-year-old was targeted by Chelsea last summer and the Blues remain keen in 2023, while the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid are known to be admirers of the Croatian World Cup star.
Recently, Gvardiol confirmed his desire to play in the Premier League in the future and even specifically confessed he would like to continue working with French forward Christopher Nkunku, who has agreed to join Chelsea at the end of the season.
His comments have reignited the speculation surrounding him but Rose has warned Gvardiol's suitors that the defender will be going nowhere.
"Josko Gvardiol will be a RB Leipzig player next season," Rose said. "He is happy here.
"He said he wants to play in the Premier League but he didn’t say when.”
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Rose's comments come shortly after Leipzig sporting director Max Eberl also vowed to keep Gvardiol beyond the summer of 2024, despite the mounting interest in the centre-back.
"It's also not our intention to let him go in the summer of 2024," Eberl said.
"Beyond that, it's hard to say. But we are definitely planning with him for the next year and a half."
Gvardiol recently extended his contract with Leipzig until 2027, giving the Bundesliga side plenty of control when it comes to talks over his future. Reports have suggested suitors will have to make him the most expensive defender of all time to even have a chance of getting a deal done.