Crushing blow for Liverpool and Chelsea as manager rules out summer move for £98m star

Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea have been dealt a major transfer blow after links with RB Leipzig star Josko Gvardiol were shut down by his club manager.

Gvardiol spoke publicly earlier this week about Chelsea's interest in signing him last summer, but revealed that Leipzig did not want to sell him.

He told The Times: "My agent called me and said that Chelsea is extremely interested and, of course, you definitely think about a serious offer from a huge club like Chelsea. Leipzig said they didn't want to sell me.

"In the end I really struggled with that decision but we didn't make an agreement. It is what it is."

Meanwhile, Football Transfers claim that Gvardiol has been included on a four-defender transfer shortlist by Liverpool ahead of the summer window.

The pacey centre-back, who represented Croatia at the World Cup, has previously admitted, according to RTLDanas, that he supported Liverpool and watched their games growing up.

City have also been linked with a move for the 21-year-old in the past two transfer windows, with Goal claiming that Real Madrid are also keen, having allegedly spoken to the player's agent on two occasions.

However, the chance of a move to the Premier League this summer appears to have been handed a significant blow.

Liverpool, Chelsea dealt Gvardiol blow

Gvardiol played in Leipzig's 1-1 draw with Manchester City in the Champions League last 16 stage on Wednesday, and scored a crucial equaliser in the second half. He has already made 74 appearances for the club in all competitions since joining from Dinamo Zagreb in the summer of 2021.

Speaking after the game, club boss Marco Rose explained (quotes via talkSPORT): "Josko 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!"

Sky Sports report that Gvardiol has a release clause in his contract of €110 million, but that this only becomes active next summer.

Therefore, it appears that clubs will have to pay even more money to sign him this summer - or wait a further year down the line, where there will surely be a fierce battle for his signature between Europe's top clubs.