Tottenham Hotspur have gathered information on RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol as they continue their search for an additional centre-back, according to Nabil Djellit.
Gvardiol is the latest name on the club’s recruitment list as a deal for Alessandro Bastoni now seems increasingly unlikely this window.
Très bon cette saison en Bundesliga avec le RB Leipzig, Josko Gvardiol est visé par Tottenham. Les Spurs ont pris des renseignements auprès du club allemand. Le Croate de 20 ans est sous contrat jusqu’en juin 2026. #Mercato #Spurs pic.twitter.com/7JDFinyBMr
— Nabil Djellit (@Nabil_djellit) June 25, 2022
Spurs Take Information From RB Leipzig for Josko Gvardiol
A Strong Start to Life in Germany
The 20-year-old central defender has been a revelation in his debut season for the German side, playing 29 league games as Leipzig secured Champions League football for the fourth season running. Although they finished 19 points adrift from champions Bayern Munich, nobody conceded fewer goals than Leipzig in the 2021/22 Bundesliga campaign, a testament to Gvardiol’s defensive performances for his side.
If the player is to leave the club this summer, Leipzig will certainly be looking to muster a healthy return on the £13.5 million they spent on the Croatian just a year ago.
Spurs’ Search for a Centre-Back
The north London side have been busy in the market so far this summer, already securing deals for Fraser Forster, Ivan Perisic and Yves Bissouma. However, one area the club have struggled in is their search for a new centre-back.
With top target Bastoni now looking likely to remain at the San Siro this summer, Spurs have been forced to look elsewhere for defensive recruitment. Among mentioned names include Villareal’s Pau Torres and Barcelona’s Clement Lenglet, but it now looks like the club could firm up their interest in Gvardiol who is under contract at Leipzig until June 2026.
Alessandro Bastoni’s agent Tinti on English clubs interest after meeting with Inter board: “Bastoni will stay at Inter next season, as we are used to respect contracts”. 🇮🇹 #transfers @marifcinter
“Yes, we’ve reached an agreement to extend Simone Inzaghi’s contract”, he added.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 21, 2022
Where Does Gvardiol Fit In at Spurs?
The Croatian has built a reputation for being one of the most exciting young centre-backs in Europe and it is no wonder Conte wants to add him to the Spurs squad for the upcoming season.
Since arriving in November 2021, the Italian has relied heavily upon Ben Davies to fill in at left-centre-back due to the squad’s lack of depth in defensive areas. The arrival of Gvardiol would not only give the side a naturally left-footed centre-back, but also the opportunity to convert to a back four with the former Dinamo Zagreb man more than comfortable with playing at left back.
Read More: Every Premier League Transfer Completed in Summer 2022
Spurs will be looking to compete on all fronts in the upcoming season, and there is no doubt that the signing of Gvardiol would help them on their way to doing so.
