Kai Havertz to Arsenal: Gunners hope June deadline will see Chelsea drop asking price
The Blues need to offload unwanted players before June 30, so the sales can be included in their financial accounts for 2022-23
helsea are prepared to do business with Arsenal and sell Kai Havertz to their London rivals, but are demanding up to £70million for the Germany international.
Arsenal and Chelsea have opened talks over a deal for Havertz after Mikel Arteta identified him as a player who could add creativity to his team.
Havertz would be keen on a switch to Emirates Stadium. Arsenal want Chelsea to lower their asking price but are willing to match his £250,000-a-week wages.
Chelsea need to sell players to help balance the books and reduce the size of their squad and are in a race to offload unwanted players before June 30, so the sales can be included in their financial accounts for 2022-23.
Arsenal hope that pressure will force Chelsea to soften their stance over their valuation of Havertz.
Havertz has struggled at Chelsea since his £71m move from Bayer Leverkusen in 2020 and has mainly been used a centre forward at Stamford Bridge.
But he joined Chelsea as an attacking midfielder and Arteta is confident he can unlock his potential at Arsenal.
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The 24-year-old is also wanted by Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, but European clubs will not have the same financial power as English clubs in the transfer market this summer.
Havertz has two years left on his contract at Chelsea, so this summer is their last chance to bank a big fee for him and they may be forced to sell to a rival.