Leeds United are preparing for a summer pounce on RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol.
The Peacock has been linked with a move to Josko Gvardiol, 20, following his promotion to the Premier League in 2020. However, the defender turned down a move to the Premier League to join RB Leipzig from Dinamo Zagreb last summer.
Since his move to RB Leipzig, the Croatia international has established himself as a mainstay in the club’s defence, having made 39 appearances in all competitions so far. Playing under Jesse Marsh at Leipzig, and with the American now at the helm of Leeds United, the versatile defender appears to be in demand once again by the Yorkshire giants.
Leeds United director of football Victor Orta and his recruitment team have continued to monitor Gvardiol’s progress in the Bundesliga ahead of a potential move into the summer transfer window. However, the Whites could face competition from other clubs for the youngster, who is currently valued at around £27m by RB Leipzig.
Jesse Marsh has identified Josko Gvardiols as an option to strengthen his defense after Leeds’ weakness this season. The Whites have the worst defensive record in the division, conceding 68 goals in 32 matches.
However, Marsh has halted the flow of goals since replacing Marcelo Bielsa at Elland Road, bringing some much-needed stability to the club. Leeds have won three of their last five matches, and their latest 3-0 win over Watford has pushed them to safety.
Currently, Marsh has Robin Koch, William Cooper, Pascal Stroic, Diego Llorente and Charlie Cresswell at his disposal as centre-backs. Cooper, Koch and Llorente have all endured injury-ridden campaigns, while Struijk’s disappointing performance continues.
Josco Gvardiol is developing into one of the brightest central defenders in European football. He impressed him at Leipzig with his strong showing at the back, thus attracting the attention of many clubs.
Standing at 6 feet 1 inch, the 10-man Croatia international makes a powerful, powerful and intimidating presence in defense. As a proactive defender, he is always ready to go toe-to-toe with the opponent’s attackers and get the ball back for his team before releasing it quickly.
The player can get the ball out of the back well and spot his teammates in the last third with accurate diameters and long balls. Add to his versatility as a left-back, Gvardiol has all the makings of a center back.
At twenty, Gvardiol has a long way to go in his career, and he has the attributes to come to Leeds and make a huge impact next season. Thus, the Blancs must do their best to follow the Croats when the transfer window reopens.
I’m Rohan Sengupta from India’s busiest city, Mumbai. A journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I cannot live without, writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24/7.
