Chelsea are keeping tabs on Frankfurt defender Evan Ndicka as Gvardiol alternative
According to David Ornstein of The Athletic (subscription required), Chelsea are keeping tabs on Eintracht Frankfurt defender Evan Ndicka as they aim to broaden their search beyond Josko Gvardiol.
Chelsea have been linked with Gvardiol since the latter half of the summer transfer window. The latest on that was the uprising of the price tag beyond €90m from RB Leipzig. So, while the Blues have personal terms agreed with the Croatia international, the asking price is slowly getting out of hand.
As a result of that, Chelsea are broadening their search to make a defensive signing – either in January or in the summer. Ndicka is one of the names who is being kept tabs on by the west London club. The France U-21 international could be available for free in the summer, with his contract expiring at that time in Frankfurt (Transfermarkt).
Just like Gvardiol, Ndicka is also a left-footed centre-back who can play both as a central defender and as a left-back. So, profile-wise, Chelsea are making sure if the primary target is not possible, the backup target is of a similar mould.
The former Auxerre defender has risen to prominence in the last year or so in German and European football. About his attributes, the youngster possesses good pace for recovery runs, is good at passing, does not shirk away from physical battles and reads the game reasonably well defensively.
In terms of playing at the elite of all elite stages (re. the World Cup), Ndicka might be junior to Gvardiol but the Frenchman has the attributes and has shown in the past year that he is as good as any in the upcoming crop of top defenders.
Chelsea could be clever here and sign Ndicka for free in the summer, with a pre-contract agreement signed in January itself. Once that is out of the window, they can continue their focus on getting Gvardiol as well.
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Getting either of Gvardiol or Ndicka would be good, but having both would be great with the possible departure of Thiago Silva imminent (contract expiring in the summer) and Cesar Azpilicueta (33) not getting any younger.