Todd Boehly has already invested heavily in bolstering Chelsea’s defence having bankrolled the signings of Kalidou Koulibaly, Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile.
Thiago Silva, meanwhile, has signed a one-year contract extension but, according to The Times, the big-spending Blues are still keen to add Gavardiol to their ranks.
Chelsea are likely to face competition from both Liverpool and Manchester City, but will want to conclude any deal this summer before Gvardiol’s release clause comes into effect in 2024.
The 21-year-old enhanced his reputation at the recent World Cup in Qatar where Croatia finished third and would’ve caught Pep Guardiola’s eye during last week’s Champions League last 16 first leg tie when he scored his side’s equalising goal in a 1-1 draw.
Chelsea held talks with Leipzig last summer but walked away from a £70m deal to focus on the signing of Fofana instead but are ready to restart negotiations with a player who is keen on a move to the Premier League.
Gvardiol said recently: ‘You definitely think about a serious offer from a huge club like Chelsea.
‘In the end I really struggled with that decision but we didn’t make an agreement. I am here and I am fine with this because my idea had been to stay here. One season was not enough.’
Whether Graham Potter will still be in charge should the commanding defender opt to sign for Chelsea remains a matter of conjecture.
Boehly remains minded to give the former Brighton boss time to turn things around with Chelsea currently mired in mid-table following a disastrous run of form which culminated in last weekend’s defeat at Tottenham.
Hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League via a top four finish are in tatters while the next two games against Leeds United and Borussia Dortmund could prove pivotal in Potter’s hopes of weathering the gathering storm.
Speaking after the defeat at Spurs, he said: ‘If results aren’t good enough, which they aren’t at the moment, you can’t rely on support forever, that’s for sure,” he told Sky Sports.
‘My job is to keep going, to keep working with the team and try and change that. The players are hurting. They are giving everything and want the results to get better, I can feel it in the dressing room.”
‘Whenever you hear those results [stats], I hold the responsibility. They are not good enough for this club, not good enough for us. We are not happy with them.’
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