Arsenal set to seal £65m move for Chelsea star Kai Havertz on £210,000-a-week deal

Arsenal are ready to complete their attack on Kai Havertz after agreeing a fee that guarantees Chelsea a minimum of £65 million.

Mail sports revealed on Tuesday that the Gunners had made Chelsea a verbal offer for their Germany international worth up to £60 million.

And the deal has been accelerated in 24 hours with the clubs agreeing a package for Havertz that will see Chelsea return a guaranteed £65 million.

That deal includes additional add-ons that will push the final fee to between £67.5m and £70m.

Havertz has signed a long-term contract with Arsenal Mail sports reports on Tuesday that Havertz has been offered a long-term contract that will see him earn a minimum of £210,000 a week.

Mikel Arteta wanted to add the German international to his selection this summer

The player’s representatives have been in close contact with Arsenal’s representatives for the past 48 hours in the knowledge that an agreement was close.

Havertz will undergo a medical in the coming days before signing his contract with the North London club.

After their original £50 million offer was rejected last week, Arsenal had continued talks with Chelsea to agree a fee for the Germany international.

Havertz joined Chelsea in 2020 and has been a regular starter at the beleaguered west London club for the past five management spells.

But while the Blues are happy to extend the player’s current contract – keeping him at Stamford Bridge until 2025 – Havertz is believed to be focused on securing a transfer.

According to ESPN, Arsenal have hinted that as well as operating as No. 10 or No. 8 in Arteta’s starting squad, the club plans to use Havertz interchangeably in one of three attacking positions at the top of a 4-3 draw -3 system. .

The Spanish manager is so convinced of the value of Havertz’s potential versatility that Arteta is believed to have played a major part in the ongoing negotiations for the player.

Havertz has played a number of striker roles for Chelsea during his tenure at Stamford Bridge, but this season has seen him largely deployed as an outright number nine due to a striker crisis.

Personal terms have already been agreed with the North London club and the player (pictured)

Romelu Lukaku was loaned to Inter Milan after a disastrous return during the 2021/22 season, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang failed to regain his once great goalscoring form, academic talent Armando Broja suffered a terrible injury and David Datro Fofana – bought in January – was rarely used.

Chelsea want to raise money to continue with their own recruitment plans. Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo tops their summer transfer target list.

But Caicedo will cost at least £100 million and Chelsea will need to sell before she feels comfortable committing to that amount.

The Blues meanwhile want to appease Financial Fair Play rules and want to sell part of their first-team squad in the summer.

Eduoard Mendy, Mateo Kovacic and Romelu Lukaku have been linked with moves, while N’Golo Kante made a move to Al-Ittihad on Wednesday.

Arsenal believe Havertz’s versatility on the field makes him a must-win target for the club, according to reports.

The 23-year-old has replaced Declan Rice at the Gunners, although Arsenal are confident both of their top targets will make the switch.

Their interest in Rice comes amid the possible departure of midfielder Thomas Partey, deemed unnecessary by Arteta.

Mikel Arteta is believed to appreciate the 23-year-old’s versatility and has been involved in conversations

Man United fanatic Mason Mount is another player who has given Chelsea a spirited appreciation

With Arteta looking to rebuild his side of Arsenal ahead of their return to the Champions League, the club will consider letting players go.

Southampton’s Lavia is another possible option in the center of the park, but Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea are also scouting the Belgian player.

Meanwhile, Arsenal have been told they must raise their £30 million opening bid for Ajax defender Jurrien Timber. The 22-year-old Holland international is valued at around £50 million but is eager to move to Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta wants a versatile defender who is good on the ball and can start as a right-back and then fill in in midfield, just like Oleksandr Zinchenko does on the other flank.

There is confidence that a deal can be reached between the two clubs for Timber.