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Premier League runners-up Arsenal have major ambitions for next season and numerous reports have surfaced over the past 24 hours linking the Gunners with a money-spinning swoop for one of Chelsea’s star performers.
Mikel Arteta’s troops were embroiled in a nine-month-long title battle with eventual winners Manchester City in 2022/23 and Arsenal look determined to strengthen their squad this summer in a bid to match the Cityzens stride-for-stride again last term.
A £100m move for West Ham skipper Declan Rice is inching to completion according to the latest updates and now it looks as though the Gunners are plotting the £70m capture of German international Kai Havertz from London rivals Chelsea.
Kai Havertz to leave Chelsea this summer?
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Kai Havertz’s current deal with Chelsea runs until 2025, however, he was informed the club of his desire to leave Stamford Bridge during the current transfer window.
Arsenal have emerged as strong contenders for his signature, while Spanish giants Real Madrid are also believed to be interested in signing the 24-year-old as a potential replacement for iconic French forward, Karim Benzema.
Chelsea paid just over £60m to bring Havertz to the club from Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen three years ago and it is thought that they would want a fee closer to £70m to sanction a move away for the German this summer.
The Blues need to balance the books this year after their £600m splurge on new players in 2022 and they have already moved on N’Golo Kante, while Mateo Kovacic and Mason Mount look set to be sold to Manchester City and Manchester United respectively.
Havertz’s inconsistent Chelsea career
While Kai Havertz’s technical gifts were never in question, he did struggle at times to turn his potential into consistent performances. The 24-year-old’s highest point with the Blues came in 2021 when the netted the winning goal in the Champions League final against Manchester City, though the German forward has endured periods littered with sub-par displays, particularly when deployed as a makeshift centre-forward.
In total, Havertz has bagged just 19 goals in 91 appearances for Chelsea – a haul that seems uninspiring enough for the Blues to sanction an exit for the Aachen-born starlet this summer.
Bayern Munich and Manchester City have also been keeping abreast of developments surrounding Havertz’s future and the forward should have a lengthy line of destinations to choose from if he does switch employers before August.
Where would Havertz fit in at Arsenal?
Arsenal’s unexpected title push last season was largely powered by the output from a prolific front four of Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus, and Kai Havertz might find it tough to dislodge any member of that sparkling quartet in the Gunners’ XI.
Havertz is versatile enough to be deployed in several positions in the final third, though his favoured role is believed to be as a number ten or attacking midfielder, which would put him in direct competition with current Arsenal captain and key creator Martin Odegaard.
With Leandro Trossard, Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson also offering Mikel Arteta quality alternatives for his front line, Arsenal’s squad already looks a little bloated in that area, however, the capture of Havertz could pave the way for a couple of attackers to leave The Emirates.
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