Transfer talks between Chelsea and Bayer Leverkusen over Kai Havertz are reportedly heating up after the Bundesliga side were knocked out of the Europa League. The Blues are keen on signing the 21-year-old forward and negotiations are ongoing over a transfer fee.
Havertz is said to be keen on making a move to the Premier League this summer and has reportedly already agreed personal terms with Chelsea.
However, the German international had committed to completing Leverkusen’s Europa League campaign before leaving the BayArena.
Peter Bosz’s side lost 2-1 to Inter Milan in the quarter-finals of the competition on Monday night, meaning Chelsea are now free to proceed with their pursuit of Havertz.
Transfer expert Nicolo Schira reports that talks between the Blues and Leverkusen are hotting up, with the player set to sign a five-year deal at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia is now in talks with Leverkusen over the details of a deal and has supposedly negotiated a favourable deal for the west London club.
Leverkusen initially demanded £90m for Havertz while Chelsea valued the striker at closer to £70m, and the latest report suggests the Blues will prove closer with their estimation.
Schira claims a deal worth €80m (£71.9m) is set to be agreed, which would represent another excellent piece of business for the Chelsea hierarchy.
Frank Lampard has supposedly played a key role in the transfer, convincing Havertz of his plans for the club in the same way he sold his ideology to Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner.
Ziyech agreed a £33.4m move from Ajax back in February while Chelsea pulled out all the stops and triggered Werner’s £53m release clause at RB Leipzig after became clear Liverpool would not make a move.
Combined with Havertz, who scored 18 goals and provided nine assists in all competitions this term, the new arrivals are set to revolutionise Chelsea’s attack and will hope to stimulate a Premier League title challenge.
However, Lampard is aware other improvements to the squad need to be made – particularly in defence.
A new left-back is required while the Blues boss also wants a centre-back and is keen to replace out-of-favour goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Jan Oblak is the No 1 choice to come in for the Spaniard between the posts but would cost £110m with Atletico Madrid unwilling to sell so Andre Onana, Nick Pope and Dean Henderson are cheaper options.
Meanwhile, it is a similar situation with Ben Chilwell as Leicester demand £80m for the England international.
Nicolas Tagliafcio, Segio Reguilon and Alex Telles have all been touted as more affordable alternatives while Marc Cucurella and Robin Gosens have also been linked.
Finally, Declan Rice is a priority at centre-back with Lampard keen to convert the West Ham midfielder back into a central defender – with the 21-year-old having played the position as a youth in the Chelsea academy.
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