With several new signings and releases, Chelsea is undergoing a huge revamp this summer, and Kai Havertz is among the stars who exit Stamford Bridge.
The transfer market is always filled with surprises, and the latest development in the 2023 summer market has caught the attention of football enthusiasts.
According to football expert Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal are closing in a deal to make Chelsea forward Kai Havertz their first summer signing. The Gunners' agreement to sign Kai Havertz from Chelsea has raised eyebrows and sparked discussions among fans and experts. With a reported fee of £60m plus £5m in add-ons, this transfer has raised questions about Chelsea's decision to let go of a player who was once regarded as one of the most exciting young talents in Europe.
While a medical is still pending, the transfer seems imminent and is expected to kickstart Arsenal's ambitious summer recruitment drive.
Kai Havertz, first Arsenal signing as deal will be completed in the next hours — here we go ✅⚪️🔴 #AFC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 21, 2023
◉ £60m guaranteed fee;
◉ £5m add-ons;
◉ Long term deal agreed;
◉ Medical tests to be scheduled.
Havertz will sign the contract this week, documents are being prepared. pic.twitter.com/ZatVvO7dRF
Failure to live up to expectations
When Havertz arrived at Chelsea from Bayer Leverkusen in August 2020 for a club-record fee of £72 million, he was regarded as one of Europe's most exciting young talents. However, his time at Stamford Bridge has been characterized by inconsistency and struggles to find his preferred position. Deployed mainly as a central striker, which is not his natural role, Havertz failed to live up to the high expectations surrounding him.
As per The Evening Satandard, the 24-year-old is poised to leave Chelsea with a relatively average scoring record of 32 goals in 139 games. He struggled to establish a defined role within the Chelsea side.
At Chelsea, Havertz's goals-per-game average is 0.23, lower than his 0.31 average at Leverkusen. His performance in the 2022/23 season was notably disappointing, with a higher underperformance compared to expected goals output than Leeds' Patrick Bamford. Additionally, Havertz missed 14 out of 18 significant scoring opportunities presented to him.
Arsenal's interest in Havertz
As per The Guardian, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has long been an admirer of Kai Havertz's talent. He believes that the German forward can be a valuable addition to the team and help bridge the gap between Arsenal and reigning Premier League champions Manchester City.
Arsenal's interest in Havertz stems from their belief in his untapped potential. At just 24 years old, Havertz has the peak years of his career ahead of him, making him an exciting prospect. With his two-footedness, versatility and ability to cover multiple positions, he could provide Arsenal with a fresh attacking option and offer tactical flexibility to manager Mikel Arteta.
Despite Arsenal's advanced negotiations, Bayern Munich reportedly made a late approach to Havertz, expressing their interest in signing him. However, the player's preference is said to be remaining in the Premier League, giving Arsenal the upper hand in securing his signature.
Huge summer shake-up at Chelsea
Despite spending more than £320 million on signings in January, Chelsea finished the season in 12th place and an overhaul is essential.
Havertz's departure is part of a larger squad overhaul at Chelsea. As per Sky Sports, the club has already seen N'Golo Kanté leave on a free transfer to join Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad and Mateo Kovacic move to Manchester City for £25 million.
Hakim Ziyech is on the verge of joining the Saudi League, particularly Al Nassr, with reports suggesting that the 30-year-old Moroccan winger has reached a personal agreement with the club, reports Sky Sports.
The restructuring indicates a strategic move by Chelsea to balance their books and reduce the size of their squad after having signed several players last season, including French forward Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig in a transaction worth £53 million. Havertz's sale would contribute to this effort while allowing the club to recoup a significant portion of their initial investment.
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