Paper Talk: Chelsea target takes drastic measure as £89m deal nears

Kai Havertz is getting desperate in his bid to force through a move to Chelsea, while Tottenham have been told to pay £50m for a top defensive target, according to Thursday’s transfer gossip.

 

HAVERTZ DESPERATE TO FORCE THROUGH CHELSEA MOVE

Kai Havertz is reportedly ready to hand in a transfer request at Bayer Leverkusen to force through his move to Chelsea.

The Germany international has been linked with a move to the Blues all summer, and is ready to force Leverkusen’s hand.

Chelsea are currently in the process of overhauling their squad. They 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. He has scored 17 goals and added nine assists in 43 appearances across all competitions this term.

Chelsea are known to 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, as per the Daily Star.

The report adds that the attacking midfielder has supposedly been offered a five-year deal by Chelsea. The Blues are also willing to meet Leverskuen’s £89m valuation of the player.

Real Madrid and Bayern Munich had also been interested in Havertz. But they were unable to stump up the relevant funds.

That appears to leave Chelsea as the lone frontrunner, as Frank Lampard looks to build a squad capable of title success next season.

 

TOTTENHAM TOLD TO PAY UP FOR DEFENSIVE TARGET 

Norwich City want around £50m for defender Ben Godfrey, with Tottenham, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig among the clubs keen on the England Under-21 international (Sky Sports)

Mesut Ozil is planning an Arsenal getaway and has told friends he will only consider playing in the USA or Turkey (The Sun)

Tottenham are reportedly confident of signing Kurt Zouma from Chelsea this summer (The Sun)

Matteo Guendouzi’s ex-boss believes the Arsenal midfielder’s “attitude” could damage morale within their squad and ruin his career (The Sun)

Pep Guardiola says Manchester City will fight to keep young Spanish defender Eric Garcia out of Barcelona’s clutches (The Sun)

Liverpool have been linked with a sensational return for Philippe Coutinho with the star set to quit Barcelona this summer (Daily Express)

Arsenal have made an approach to Malang Sarr after the defender left OGC Nice, but will face stiff competition from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig (Daily Express)

Malang Sarr TEAMtalk

Carlo Ancelotti has been told he can revamp Everton’s squad but it does not mean he will rush out to reunite with some former superstars (Daily Mail)

Daniel Sturridge is reportedly open to a move to the United States as he eyes up developing his music label in America (Daily Mail)

Paul Pogba is willing to make a dramatic U-turn by opening talks over a new contract at Manchester United (Daily Mail)

Inter Milan retain an interest in signing Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud as well as his club mate Emerson Palmieri (Daily Mail)

Manchester United have ended their pursuit of Lyon striker Moussa Dembele (Daily Mirror)

Kevin de Bruyne’s agent has rubbished talk that the Belgium midfielder is set for a move away from Manchester City to join Real Madrid or Paris St-Germain (Daily Star)

GREENWOOD’S MEGA JUVENTUS OFFER

Manchester United youngster Mason Greenwood was offered “life-changing” money to join Juventus (Daily Star)

Jamie Vardy is to avoid FA action despite wounding Shkodran Mustafi’s face in the Arsenal clash (Daily Star)

The FA could invite the winners of the Championship to play Liverpool in the Community Shield if the FA Cup winners cannot take part due to European commitments (The Times)

The Premier League’s power to use VARs flexibly has suffered a significant blow after Fifa took full control of the system’s rules (The Times)

AC Milan have targeted Kristoffer Ajer as part of a £75m summer signing spree (Scottish Sun)

Scottish football is facing up to the nightmare scenario of a coronavirus crisis re-run next season as clubs look set to vote down emergency plans to cope with a second wave of the pandemic (Daily Record)

Flo Kamberi has told Rangers he wants a permanent deal if they are to bring him back to Ibrox (Daily Record)