David Moyes backs Chelsea target Josko Gvardiol to move to the Premier League

manager believes target Josko Gvardiol will end up playing in the Premier League in the next few years.

Gvardiol has been one of Croatia’s standout performers at the so far and has helped his side reach the quarter-final where they will play Brazil on Friday.

Chelsea had attempted to sign Gvardiol in the closing stages of the summer transfer window but RB Leipzig rejected a huge €90 million (£77.4m) bid for the 20-year-old.

Manchester City have also been linked with a move and Moyes believes Gvardiol is destined to make the move to England in the near future.

‘I picked out Gvardiol, 20, as one of the talents to watch at this tournament and he really is going to be a super player,’ Moyes wrote in his column for .

‘He was Croatia’s left back at Euro 2020 but is probably going to play most of his career at left centre back, where we’re seeing him here.

‘He came through the Red Bull system and they excel at picking out new talents from eastern Europe.

‘I’ll be amazed if he doesn’t come to the Premier League in the next couple of years.’

Moyes also praised the performance of Morocco defender Nayef Aguerd, who was signed by West Ham in the summer but missed the majority of the first part of the season because of an ankle injury.

Morocco saw off Spain via a penalty shootout in the last 16 earlier this week and will now play Portugal in the quarter final on Saturday, although Aguerd could miss out through injury.

‘They have an outstanding right back in Achraf Hakimi and I’ve been impressed with the energy, attitude and quality of their holding midfielder, Sofyan Amrabat,’ Moyes wrote.

‘They have two left-footed centre backs, which you don’t see too often and Nayef Aguerd is a rarity in being a left footer who plays on the right side of defence.

‘But he and Romain Saiss have been fantastic. Aguerd is very good footballer, a stylish centre half, and it was a real blow for West Ham when he got injured in a pre-season friendly against Rangers.

‘We missed him and I was pleased he was finally able to make his Premier League debut in our last game. Though Morocco might find keeping another clean sheet tough, given the step up in level, there is more to them than just defending – in Youssef En-Nesyri they have a centre forward who is an incredible good runner and gives them an outlet.’

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