RB Leipzig centre-back Josko Gvardiol has been the subject of interest from various top clubs, and a summer departure for the Croatian looks like a real possibility.
The 20-year-old started turning heads with his performances last season, he broke into the Leipzig first team shortly after his League debut, eventually turning into a surefire starter.
He carried his solid form into the Qatar World Cup and became a central cog of the Croatian team that secured a 3rd placed finish in the tournament.
His playstyle is centred around physicality and aggression, the Croatian uses his stature to great effect, often bullying opposition players off the ball.
Aside from his defensive acumen, the 5′ 11″ defender is also solid on the ball.
He can manoeuvre out and around a press if required while having the passing accuracy to penetrate through opposition lines.
The centre-back also has a surprising bit of pace in his locker, allowing him to play as a fullback if needed, and he has done so in the past for Leipzig.
All these traits make the Croatian an ideal target for Elite European outfits, and the likes of Real Madrid, Chelsea and Liverpool have already been linked with him.
The Blues even submitted an offer of £90m during last year’s summer window, long before Gvardiol’s exploits in Qatar.
Well aware of the value of their asset, Leipzig cleverly inserted a release clause of £112m into his contract, which will activate in 2024.
The five-year contract has also tied Gvardiol down to some ridiculously low wages that place him far below the salaries of many other young defenders.
As per numerous reports, the 20-year-old’s weekly wages are around the figure of €21,000. Going by that number, his earnings amount to €1.12m annually.
In comparison, Inter centre-back Alessandro Bastoni earns around €100,000 a week, while his AC Milan counterpart Fikayo Tomori earns €86,000.
Gvardiol’s wages are far from representative of the player’s quality, and he will likely receive a sizable bump if switches clubs in the near future.
There are reports which suggest that he has already received a slight wage increase as part of his recent contract extension, but they remain unconfirmed for now.
The low wages will certainly encourage bidding clubs, as it could potentially give them a bit of leverage during negotiations.
With Leipzig happy to hang on to their man until the release clause is paid, clubs looking to save a few million could offer Gvardiol a meaty contract, who in turn, could apply pressure on the German club.
It remains to be seen where Gvardiol ends up after the summer window, or if he departs Leipzig in the first place.
