Chelsea will meet with Bayer Leverkusen chiefs in the next few days to thrash out a deal for midfielder Kai Havertz.
That’s according to BILD, who report that the German youngster has been made ‘an absolute top priority’ by Roman Abramovich this summer.
Havertz is one of the hottest properties in Europe at present, having managed 17 goals and nine assists in 43 games so far this season.
Nearly every top club in Europe has been linked with his signature, but it is Chelsea who are currently thought to be leading the pack.
Reports in England this week indicated that the Blues had already agreed on a deal with the 21-year-old over a move to Stamford Bridge and thus talks with Leverkusen were imminent as they look to push the transfer over the line.
Bild cover that today and report, via their own sources, that Chelsea will indeed contact Leverkusen in the coming days to negotiate a transfer.
Leading the negotiations will be director Marina Granovskaia. She’s the ‘confidante’ of Chelsea owner Abramovich and ‘the most powerful woman in world football’ according to BILD.
Thus it is her who will sit down with Leverkusen’s sports boss Rudi Völler, who will not be offering Havertz out on the cheap.
In England, there has been talk of an £80m package, but Leverkusen want €100m and Völler has made it clear that he will not be lowering that demand by even a cent.
Bild believe that a deal could be struck for €70m plus €30m in ‘possible success bonuses’ but don’t venture to guess as to what that might entail.
The good news for Chelsea is that they are the only potential buyer for Havertz this summer. Real Madrid are insisting they won’t buy big while Manchester United are focused on Jadon Sancho.
That leaves the run clear for the Blues, although they will have to wait until Leverkusen have finished their Europa League campaign before they can get Havertz in for a medical.
