Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Football London
Football London
Sport
Kwame Boakye

Thomas Tuchel's dream starting line-up if Josko Gvardiol joins Todd Boehly's new-look Chelsea

Chelsea’s defence is set for a major overhaul this summer with Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen both leaving the club next month. Both players are out of contract in June and their departures will leave a gaping hole in the Blues’ backline.

Thomas Tuchel will be keen to bolster his squad in the upcoming window and in particular his defensive options. A host of centre-backs have been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge to replace the aforementioned outgoing duo; and one such is name is RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol.

The 20-year-old would be a good replacement for Rudiger as both are left-footed and prefer to operate on the left of a back three. Gvardiol also possesses the ability to bring the ball out of defence and break midfield lines with surging runs into the opposition's half.

READ MORE: What Todd Boehly did after Chelsea goal vs Leicester City as Thiago Silva frustration becomes clear

The Croatia international is also strong in one-on-one situations and has been likened to Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk in his homeland. He is under contract at the Red Bull Arena until the summer of 2026, meaning Leipzig will be able to command a hefty fee for his services.

Gvardiol joined the Bundesliga side from Dinamo Zagreb last summer and has already established himself as a cornerstone of their starting line-up, making 45 appearances across all competitions this season. However, his impressive form and boundless potential has seen him linked with a host of European football’s elite clubs; and Leipzig could well be tempted to cash in on the prodigious talent.

With that said, is there a place for Gvardiol in Tuchel’s starting XI? Here, we take a look at how Chelsea could line up next season with the Croatian defender in the side:

GK: Edouard Mendy

RCB: Jules Kounde

CB: Trevoh Chalobah

LCB: Josko Gvardiol

RWB: Reece James

CM: N’Golo Kante

CM: Jorginho

LWB: Ben Chilwell

RW: Mason Mount

LW: Timo Werner

ST: Kai Havertz

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.