Newcastle United interested in signing Leipzig centre-back Josko Gvardiol

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Newcastle United have been linked with a summer move for promising RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol.

The 20-year-old only joined the Bundesliga giants in the summer from Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb but his impressive performances have already caught the eye of the Magpies.

Tasked with filling the void of Ibrahima Konaté and Dayot Upamecano who both left the Red Bull Arena for Liverpool and Bayern Munich in the summer, Gvardiol is already being courted.

The Mail report that the Croatian international is expected to form part of discussions this week at St James’ Park and he could be the subject of interest from PIF.

The report states that the youngster ‘will have no shortage of suitors’, but the world’s richest club will fancy their chances of convincing him that Tyneside is the right destination for him.

Newcastle face Premier League competition for Josko Gvardiol

Tottenham Hotspur are also reportedly keen to snap up Gvardiol and Arsenal are thought to be in the race for his signature too.

The Mail reported earlier this month that Spurs have made Gvardiol their top summer target as they seek a new central defender.

Despite paying just £15million for Gvardiol last summer, it’s claimed that Leipzig want around £50million for the Croatian star this summer.

But after signing the dominant and towering Dan Burn on January, Newcastle are seemingly keen to buy a ball-playing centre-halve who is considered an upgrade on Fabian Schar.

Gvardiol fits the bill as a ball-playing defender and he has even been likened to David Alaba by the official Bundesliga website.

With competition for Josko Gvardiol likely to be fierce this summer, Newcastle may have to flex their financial muscles to sign the nine-time Croatian international who played at left-back against England at the European Championships.