Report: Leipzig prepared to pay extra to get Gvardiol immediately
German footballing magazine Kicker reports that RB Leipzig currently consider an early call-in of one of their defensive re-enforcements.
Germany's Red Bulls officially signed young Croatian Josko Gvardiol defender shortly before the transfer deadline this autumn. The 18-year-old remained at Croatian club Dynamo Zagreb, however, one a one-year-loan arrangement.
The idea at the time was merely attain the rights to the promising teenager for future use. The Leipzig defensive corp remained deep enough to keep him off the roster. It made more sense to allow Gvardiol to assemble more experience with his hometown club, bringing him in next summer to replace the likely-to-depart Dayot Upamecano.
Kicker reports that injuries and Upamecano's own recent form dip may have altered the calculus. The fact that Gvardiol, a trained central defender, has also done well with the club's new assignment for him at left-back certainly hasn't hurt either. A contractual clause allowing for an early termination of the loan contract is thought to exist.
German website Transfermarkt.de expands upon the potential details of such an arrangement. The sites authors note that Leipzig will have to pay the Croatian side between €70,000 and €100,000 for each of Gvardiol's appearances. Zagreb may be guaranteed up to 15 of such payments as per one provision of the contract.