Josko Gvardiol recently linked to Inter, but it is now understood that their Derby d’Italia rivals Juventus are also hot on the youngster’s trail. The Croat starlet is only 20, but he is already making waves in the Bundesliga, having helped RB Leipzig conquer the DFB-Pokal and reach the semi-finals of Europa League – two feats never achieved before in the history of the club.
Giorgio Chiellini’s departure has got the Bianconeri looking for ways to bolster their defensive strength ahead of next season. According to the latest reports from Tuttosport (via Tuttomercatoweb), Gvardiol has appeared on the Juventus radar, but his asking transfer price might wade off any interest. Leipzig reportedly want €50M for their defensive starlet – almost double his transfermarkt value.
However, Gvardiol is a pricey alternative to the main Juventus targets in the role. They currently consist of Napoli ace Kalidou Koulibaly, who is yet to notch down a contract renewal deal. Barcelona are also keeping tabs on how his extension talks develop. Another option to emerge from Italy is Fiorentina stopper Nikola Milenkovic, for whom there have been no advances as of yet, and the same goes for Arsenal’s Gabriel.
Our Take on Juventus Links to Gvardiol
Replacing Chiellini was never going to be an easy task, and bestowing responsibilities on a 20-year-old, such as Gvardiol, seems like the last thing the Juventus management should do. Trying for more proven defenders is a safer bet at the moment, especially given the Bianconeri‘s intentions of making a comeback on the domestic stage. However, it goes without saying that the Croatian center-back has immense potential to make a name for himself at the Allianz Stadium if in case a move does materialize.