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‘He is happy’: Manager claims £80m Chelsea target will be staying at his current club next season

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RB Leipzig manager Marco Rose has told journalist Arilas Ould-Saada that Josko Gvardiol will be staying with his club next season.

The defender has been strongly linked with a move at the end of this campaign, with Chelsea being one of the sides to show the most interest.

He enjoyed another stellar night in an already packed yet young career, when he scored the equaliser against Manchester City to level the Champions League Round of 16 tie.

RB Leipzig v Manchester City: Round of 16 Leg One - UEFA Champions League
Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/DeFodi Images via Getty Images

The game completely changed after half-time, and the introduction of Christopher Nkunku made a huge impact as he looked to get back to full fitness.

A potential move to the Premier League is something the player himself has admitted he wants, with Chelsea one of the sides reportedly interested in a move.

Gvardiol staying at Leipzig

They already know it’s going to take a big price to prize the Croatian from the Bundesliga side. Somewhere in the region of £80m is likely to be required to get the deal done.

Rose however has claimed he has made the request to keep Gvardiol for next season, despite knowing his end goal.

TOPSHOT-FBL-EUR-C1-LEIPZIG-MAN CITY
Photo by RONNY HARTMANN/AFP via Getty Images

He said: “Joško Gvardiol will be a RB Leipzig player next season as well. I am the coach and I am asking for that. He is happy here. He said he wants to play in the Premier League, but he didn’t say when.”

Chelsea are likely to be back in the market for another defender when Thiago Silva eventually hangs up his boosts on what has been an illustrious career.

They brought in Benoit Badiashile last month as one of their numerous January signings. The Frenchman has shown signs of being a promising defender, however that has only really been the case when playing alongside Silva.