Gvardiol shuts down Haaland then scores amid links with Man City, Chelsea and Real Madrid

After playing his part in shutting out Erling Haaland, the Croatian lept like a salmon to score a second-half equaliser in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash.

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Riyad Mahrez earlier had the Premier League side ahead with a wicked strike, but Leipzig remained in the game to level things up with 20 minutes to play.

The dominant defender had City's Ederson to thank, though, with the Brazilian all over the place as Marcel Halstenberg's corner floated into the box.

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There was still much left for Gvardiol to do with fellow centre-backs Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake either side of him, but the Croatia World Cup star outjumped both by miles to head into a virtually empty net.

The Manchester Evening News has reported the sought-after defender is wanted by City, who are in a three-team tussle for his services.

Chelsea and Real Madrid are also said to be keeping tabs, with the Blues previously failing in an attempt to land him.

A bid of £70million was turned down for Gvardiol last summer, which the defender admitted left him in an awkward position when discussing it this week.

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"Phwoar, I was confused," he said when asked about Chelsea's interest.

"I was really confused because one month before the window starts I was upstairs with the sporting director and he says, 'Yeah Josko, we are not going to sell you, we need you, we believe in you'.

"I was like 'ok I am fine with this, I can stay here, I like it here, all I need is to work on myself, to play, to win something else,' It was like this until the last two days.

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"My agent called me and said that Chelsea is extremely interested and, of course, you definitely think about a serious offer from a huge club like Chelsea.

"Leipzig said they didn't want to sell me. In the end I really struggled with that decision but we didn't make an agreement. It is what it is.

"I am here and I am fine with this because my idea had been to stay here. One season was not enough. This is my second season, even one more season would be great but we will see."

He later said he would follow Chelsea-bound Christopher Nkunku anywhere, but with Chelsea stacked in defence after signing Wesley Fofana, Kalidou Koulibaly and Benoît Badiashile, City may get to the head of the queue.

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