Josko Gvardiol has admitted that Liverpool is his "dream" club as the transfer battle over the centre-back intensifies.
Chelsea and Tottenham are among the teams eyeing a move for the Croatian, who has impressed for RB Leipzig. He also helped his country to finish third at the most recent World Cup, playing every minute of their tournament.
His performances in the Bundesliga and at international level have attracted a range of interested suitors, with Chelsea having made a move for him last summer. He is under contract at Leipzig for another four years, but is once again set to be the subject of interest this month.
The Blues are expected to reignite their interest in the 20-year-old as Graham Potter looks to upgrade his squad. But Gvardiol has now delivered a blow to Potter's hopes of signing him, as he admitted Liverpool is his dream club.
"That would definitely be Liverpool. Since I was little, I watched a lot of Liverpool matches with my dad, and we covered every season in detail. It is a club that has remained in my heart," he told RTL Danas.
"Since I was a child, I always gravitated towards the English league. We all know what kind of league it is. I don't know if I'm mature enough and ready for that league. We will see, when I feel that this is the moment, that I have crossed a certain level and reached the border in Germany, then I will look further.
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"I don't bother with numbers. I am in contact with people at the club and I don't think there have been any negotiations. I have a manager who deals with it and I am maximally focused on the work on the field."
Gvardiol also hinted that he wanted to stay at Leipzig for the rest of the season, rather than move on this month. And the defender also insisted he feels wanted by the Bundesliga side after they fought to keep him during the summer.
"I am also happy for the club to achieve something big. I'm not in a hurry, I'm in Leipzig, we still have six months to finish the season properly and to win something. And then we will look further to the future," he added.
"I am convinced of this because this summer the transfer was close and they simply kept me. We talked and they told me how much I mean to them, how much I mean to my teammates and the club, and I was glad to hear that.
"I hope to spend these six months with them. They did not give up, but it was agreed that we would go for the winter. Winter has come, so we need to see what and how to proceed, but it's okay, there's still plenty of time, we'll see.
"Well, I do not know. Nobody presented anything to me. No idea as far as I'm concerned. But I'm not in a hurry, we have time, let them arrange the plan and we'll see."
