Arsenal enter race for Chelsea star, with competition for £70million-rated man clearing out
Arsenal are reportedly ‘monitoring developments’ regarding Chelsea forward Kai Havertz, as Real Madrid have reportedly been put off by the £70million asking price.
The Gunners’ season was one of the best they’ve had for years. Indeed, they hadn’t finished within the top two of the Premier League since 2015/16 before this season.
Leading from Manchester City for much of the season was a massive achievement, especially considering City had won the title for the previous two years, when Arsenal finished fifth and eighth.
Mikel Arteta will want his side to remain in the hunt for titles in the next few years. That, coupled with Champions League football, means recruiting this summer is a must.
Chelsea forward Havertz is one player Arsenal are seemingly keen on. Indeed, The Telegraph reports they are ‘thought to be monitoring developments’.
The German was a target of Real Madrid’s, though they seem to have been put off by his asking price. The Telegraph suggests the sum the Blues want to receive from Havertz is £70million.
It might not be outlandish of the La Liga side not to want to pay that. Indeed, the report states it’s ‘unlikely Real or any club he would be interested in joining will pay more than £50million’ for Havertz this summer.
But given he’s got just two years left on his deal, the clock is ticking. The Telegraph cites Chelsea’s apparent business model at the moment – they ‘ideally want to extend the contracts or sell any players with two or less years remaining on their existing deals’.
With that being said, they might have to drop their asking price to encourage suitors to genuinely pursue their forward. While Arsenal are currently in a monitoring phase, they could be prompted to bid if the deal was worth it.
The report states interested clubs such as the Gunners feel Chelsea’s asking price is ‘unrealistic’, while they think it ‘reflects the market rate’.
Arsenal have already got Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah and might well have Folarin Balogun to call upon up top next season. As such, signing a striker for £70million seems illogical.
A lot of sides will be in a similar situation in not wanting to pay top dollar for somebody who will likely not be their starting striker. Indeed, Havertz’s highest Premier League goals tally is eight, so he’s not shown himself to be a clinical finisher.
As such, the Blues will need to seriously consider lowering the fee if they want to sell the star, rather than see him walk away for free in two years.
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