Arsenal ‘CLOSE’ to completing first summer transfer - Ornstein

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 21 Jun 2023 11:29 BST
• 3 min read

Breaking

Arsenal are closing in on a deal to secure Chelsea attacker Kai Havertz, with the Germany international expected to move for a transfer worth around £65 million.

FootballTransfers exclusively revealed last week that Arsenal had made an opening bid of £55 million for the 24-year-old but Chelsea were holding out for a deal worth £70m.

It appears that the Gunners have managed to talk the Blues down from their price a little and, according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, are simply completing the formalities of a deal.

MORE: Chelsea didn't know how to use Kai Havertz, Arsenal do

The report indicates that Arsenal are working with Chelsea to finalise the structure of the deal, including the instalment payments and any prospective bonuses. Reports have previously indicated that the Blues will ask for around £5m in add-ons, which would take them up to their £70m target for a player who cost them £75m upfront when he arrived from Bayern Leverkusen in 2020.

Although Havertz will be remembered as a flop at Chelsea – despite the goal that claimed them the 2021 Champions League final – Arsenal are optimistic that they will be able to make better use of the player.

He has played 139 times for Chelsea in all competitions, scoring 32 goals and creating another 15, though has regularly been used as a centre forward, which is not his favoured position.

MORE: Rice, Havertz and Timber: How will Arsenal line up next season?

It is expected that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will make use of the player’s versatility to fill various positions across the attack and attacking-midfield areas as the Gunners step up their pursuit of Manchester City after finishing second in the Premier League.

The squad will also be under more strain due to their Champions League commitments, so having a player experienced at that level will be seen as an asset.

What next for Chelsea and Arsenal?

For Chelsea, the sale of Havertz, in addition to that of Mateo Kovacic to Manchester City, will allow them to start making moves in the summer transfer window, with Brighton’s Moises Caicedo, a player previously coveted by Arsenal, an expected arrival.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are expected to step up their chase for West Ham midfielder Declan Rice and Ajax defender Jurrien Timber, with the hope of getting all these three deals done for around £200m.