In-demand defender Josko Gvardiol has admitted that he was a boyhood fan of Liverpool, and that Jurgen Kloppβs side βremain in my heartβ ahead of what is set to be a drawn out battle for his signature.
The RB Leipzig defender was subject to Chelsea interest last summer, and a good World Cup saw his stock rise even further, with Real Madrid and Manchester City both now interested in adding the 21-year-old to their squads, and a predicted fee of in excess of 100m euros.
But, asked about his boyhood club, Gvardiol admitted that he still has a soft spot for Jurgen Kloppβs Liverpool, with he and his dad watching a lot of games together.
βThat would definitely be Liverpoolβ, he explained. βSince I was little, I watched a lot of Liverpool matches with my dad and we covered every season in detail. It is a club that has remained in my heart.β
The Croatian also revealed just how close a move to Chelsea had been over the summer, adding that βlast summer a transfer was close and they simply kept me. I hope to spend these six months with them [Leipzig]. Chelsea did not give up, but it was agreed that we would go for the winterβ.
A move to Chelsea has since broken down, with the defenderβs World Cup performances raising his price tag to the point where the Blues felt it impossible to complete a deal, instead moving to sign Monacoβs Benoit Badiashile.
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 15th Nov, 2022. Josko Gvardiol of Croatia during training session at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on November 15, 2022 ahead of international friendly match between Saudi Arabia and Croatia. Photo: Goran St 2KF21JK Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 15th Nov, 2022. Josko Gvardiol of Croatia during training session at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on November 15, 2022 ahead of international friendly match between Saudi Arabia and Croatia. Photo: Goran Stanzl/PIXSELL Credit: Pixsell photo & video agency/Alamy Live News (Alamy Stock Photo)
βThereβs still plenty of time, so weβll see… Nobody presented anything to me. But Iβm not in a hurry, we have time, let them arrange the plan and weβll see.β
βIβm not in a hurry. Iβm at Leipzig and we still have six months to finish the season and to win something. And then we will look further to the future…β