Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring Josko Gvardiol to the Premier League this summer.

What's the talk?

That's according to a report by The Telegraph, who claim that Fabio Paratici is monitoring the RB Leipzig defender ahead of a potential Tottenham move in the summer transfer window.

The report goes on to state that Chelsea and Manchester United are also keeping a very close eye on the situation of the 20-year-old, while it is claimed that the Bundesliga side would demand a figure in the region of £50m in order to part with the Croatia international this summer.

Better than Bastoni

With the agent of Antonio Conte's first-choice centre-back target, Alessandro Bastoni, revealing on Wednesday that the 23-year-old will not be leaving Inter Milan this summer, it is not difficult to understand why Paratici is believed to be lining up a move for Gvardiol as an alternative to the Italy international.

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Indeed, over his 29 Bundesliga appearances in 2021/22, the £103m-rated talent was in breathtaking form in the heart of Leipzig's defence, helping his side keep seven clean sheets, as well as making an average of 1.8 interceptions, 1.6 tackles, 1.9 clearances and winning 5.9 duels - at a success rate of 58% - per game.

The £21k-per-week left-footer also impressed going forwards, scoring two goals, registering two assists and creating four big chances for his teammates, in addition to completing an average of 59.3 passes, 3.4 long balls, 1.3 dribbles and taking 0.8 shots per fixture.

Furthermore, when comparing the player who Ivica Olic dubbed "extraordinary" and Bastoni in both defensive and passing metrics, Gvardiol almost always comes out on top, with the 20-year-old besting the Inter starlet in tackles, interceptions, pressures and blocks per 90, as well as in passes completed, progressive passes, xA and dribbles per game.

As such, while it will have undoubtedly come as a gutting blow for Conte to miss out on his first-choice defensive target, should Paratici manage to get a £50m deal over the line for the Croatian in Bastoni's place, it would very much appear as if the Spurs sporting director could well have inadvertently landed an upgrade on the Italian.

AND in other news: Paratici could unearth Salah 2.0 as Spurs now plot bid for "dangerous" £60m sensation