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Kai Havertz ready to hand in transfer request to force through Chelsea move
Kai Havertz has told Bayer Leverkusen he wants to join Chelsea and is ready to hand in a transfer request.
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Kai Havertz has reportedly told Bayer Leverkusen that he wants to leave the club this summer and join Chelsea. The German international is believed to be ready to hand in a transfer request in order to push through a move to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea are in the process of overhauling their squad and have already signed Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner ahead of the 2020/21 campaign.
Next on the Blues' transfer wishlist is Kai Havertz, with the 21-year-old considered one of the brightest talents in Europe after 17 goals and nine assists in 43 appearances across all competitions this term.
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Chelsea have been in talks with the player's agent for weeks and Havertz is now thought to have told Bayer Leverkusen that he wants out.
The Daily Star claim Havertz is ready to hand a transfer request in at the Bundesliga club in order to force through a move this summer.
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He has supposedly been offered a five-year deal by Chelsea, who are one of the only clubs who can afford the attacker in the current financial climate.
Real Madrid and Bayern Munich were both interested in Havertz but are unable to stump up the funds to meet Leverkusen's £90m valuation.
Instead, the European giants both wanted Havertz to wait another year at his current club but the youngster is ready to take the next step in his career now.
Chelsea rate the player at nearer £70m, and Havertz's stance gives Blues director Marina Granovskaia a greater chance at negotiating a favourable deal.
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According to the latest report, Havertz has been impressed with Chelsea's ambition in signing Ziyech and Werner so swiftly.
The former penned a £33.4m move back in February before completing the ultimately curtailed Eredivise season with Ajax.
Meanwhile, Chelsea agreed to trigger Werner's £53m release clause at RB Leipzig after it became clear Liverpool would not make a move for the German international.
Both players have immediately increased the potency of the Blues attack ahead of next season, and Havertz is thought to be impressed with the direction of the west London club under Frank Lampard.
Further changes are expected at Stamford Bridge with Ben Chilwell another priority target, although Leicester could demand as much as £80m for the England international.
Nicolas Tagliafico and Alex Telles are both more affordable options while current back-up left-back Emerson Palmieri is expected to move to Serie A.
Juventus had looked favourites for the Italian's signature but Inter Milan have recently lodged a £22m bid for the 25-year-old.
Meanwhile, a new centre-back is also desired while Chelsea have been linked with Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Michy Batshuayi, Timeoue Bakayoko, Alvaro Morata and Jorginho could all depart.
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