Red Star target Sevilla captain Nemanja Gudelj

Red Star are not just kicking tires here. The story out of Serbia is that Nemanja Gudelj has moved to the top of the club’s defensive wishlist for the summer of 2026, and the reason this feels real is simple — the contract clock is doing most of the work. Gudelj is 34, he captains Sevilla, and his deal expires on June 30, 2026. That turns a big-name idea into something Red Star can actually try to pull off. ### Why Gudelj? Because he solves more than one problem at once. Gudelj can play as a defensive midfielder or as a center-back, which matters for a team trying to build a stable spine for European qualifiers and group-stage games. He also brings a lot of mileage — Sevilla since 2019, nearly 200 appearances there, and 75 caps for Serbia. That is not just depth. That is structure. (onefootball.com) ### Why now? The contract is the whole hinge. Sevilla extended Gudelj in June 2023 through June 30, 2026, so this is the final window before the deal runs out. When a player is this experienced and this established, clubs usually do one of two things — extend early or prepare for an exit. The reporting around Sevilla lately has pointed both ways, which usually means the situation is open rather than settled. (en.wikipedia.org) ### Is he really Sevilla’s captain? Yes — that part is not fluff. Multiple current squad listings and coverage around the club identify Gudelj as captain in 2025-26. That matters because Red Star would not just be signing a recognizable Serbian international. They would be taking a dressing-room leader from a major European league and dropping him into a team that wants more authority at the back. (sevillafc.es) ### Where would he actually play? Probably in defense, even though Gudelj has spent much of his career in midfield. The reporting tied to the rumor frames him as part of a back-line plan, and that makes sense with Red Star’s squad-building. Miloš Veljković already arrived on a three-year deal, and Strahinja Eraković has been one of the club’s obvious defensive reference points. Gudelj would give them a calmer, older organizer who can also step forward into midfield when the shape shifts. (cavpo.com) Basically, he is a center-back and safety valve in one body. ### Why would Red Star want that kind of profile? Because this looks like a deliberate Serbia-core build. Red Star have shown they are willing to chase established Serbian names, whether the move lands or not, and Gudelj fits that pattern almost perfectly. He is not a resale signing. He is a “win qualifiers, settle matches, raise the floor” signing. For a club balancing domestic expectations with European pressure, that profile is usually worth more than upside. (en.nogomania.com) ### Why might Sevilla hesitate? Leadership, versatility, and lack of easy replacements. Even if Gudelj is no longer a long-term piece, players who can cover midfield and defense while also wearing the armband are hard to swap out cleanly. Sevilla have used him as one of the stabilizers in a messy period, so losing him for little or nothing would sting unless an extension is already lined up. (mozzartsport.com) ### So how serious is this? Serious enough to watch, but not done. What exists right now is credible reporting that Red Star have started moving and a contract situation that makes the chase plausible. The missing piece is Gudelj himself — whether he wants one more deal abroad, or whether a return to Serbia now feels like the right landing spot. (transferfeed.com) ### Bottom line This is the kind of transfer rumor that makes sense before anyone signs anything. Red Star need authority and flexibility. Gudelj may soon be available. When those two facts line up, the story stops feeling speculative and starts feeling like a real summer decision. (onefootball.com)