Chelsea chiefs are confident finding a deal for RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol.

The Athletic says the negotiations over the summer broke down due to Leipzig changing the asking price. Rising from around £60.5million to as high as £77million.

Chelsea have two advantages in the upcoming chase for Gvardiol in 2023, the most obvious being the Croatian connection between the defender and Mateo Kovacic, also currently at the World Cup as the duo prepare for Monday's last-16 clash with Japan.

Kovacic's presence was mentioned by Gvardiol on Thursday after Croatia's 0-0 draw with Belgium. When asked about a potential future move to Chelsea, he said: “[Chelsea's] a big club of course and, who knows, maybe one day I will be there. It's really nice to see things like this, especially because there is Kovacic, so you never know. I talk with him."

The second advantage is the imminent arrival of Christopher Vivell as a technical director who will join Boehly's new recruitment team. Vivell departed Leipzig at the beginning of October and will have good knowledge of Gvardiol and the situation with Chelsea over the past summer.