On Friday, Bayer Leverkusen will welcome their players back as they plan for the new season. They’ve had a two week break, and will report to the BayArena for Covid-19 tests.
Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger say when club spokesman Dirk Mesch was today asked if Kai Havertz will be there, he said: “As it stands, yes.”
However, the player doesn’t want that to be the case, with it explained by the regional newspaper he’d ‘actually prefer to be somewhere else… probably with Chelsea’.
The Blues have been locked in a battle to sign him for a while now, and the German slant has tended to be very positive, yet the deal isn’t yet over the line.
According to the report, the Bundesliga club want at least €100m guaranteed, and see ‘no reason to give in’, so it’s explained Roman Abramovich will have to find a way to meet it.
Such a claim is different from others which have been stating €80m plus €20m in bonuses should be enough.
There is a desire to get the matter settled, which could help Chelsea, and it’s explained Bayer don’t want a miserable footballer around the place. A little push forward should do it, although it’s fair to say the local report makes it clear nothing is agreed yet.
Should Kai Havertz be excused from Friday’s meet-up then that would be a very positive sign for the Premier League club.
