Arsenal will soon make an improved offer to land Kai Havertz from Chelsea, with interest from Bayern Munich reportedly arriving ‘too late’ to prevent the German international’s move to the Emirates.
Havertz emerged as a shock target for Mikel Arteta last week and they’ve reportedly already had a £50m bid for the 24-year-old rebuffed.
A second bid is thought to be imminent though, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
Romano tweeted: ‘Kai Havertz has been very clear with all parties involved in the deal: he wants to play for Arsenal after green light on contract this week #AFC Personal terms agreed, new bid to be submitted soon. Understand there’s hope to get deal done after the international break.’
The Guardian’s Jacob Steinberg reported on Saturday that the Gunners are ‘confident Chelsea’s need to sell will force them to accept £60m for Havertz, but they will have to fend off interest from Bayern Munich’.
Chelsea are ‘willing to sell’ Havertz after the player informed their board of his ‘desire to leave this summer’.
The Blues are reportedly hopeful that rival interest from Bayern Munich will increase the price for the forward but Arsenal are understood to be in the ‘driving seat’.
The report continued:
‘Havertz would be happy to join Mikel Arteta’s side and stay in London, and believe that £60m will convince Chelsea to sell. Arsenal are looking for more depth up front and are offering Havertz a fresh start after a difficult season at Stamford Bridge.
‘However, the situation has been complicated by Bayern’s interest. The Bundesliga champions have lacked incision since losing Robert Lewandowski to Barcelona last year but their search for a No 9 is threatening to end in frustration. Moves for Tottenham’s Harry Kane and Napoli’s Victor Osimhen have not taken off.
‘Bayern have switched their focus to a player who can operate in a variety of roles and have made contact with Havertz’s camp. Havertz has regularly filled in as a false 9 for Chelsea and wants more opportunities to demonstrate his creativity in a deeper role. Bayern’s manager, Thomas Tuchel, knows the former Bayer Leverkusen player from his time in charge of Chelsea.
‘The Tuchel factor has not prevented Arsenal from remaining favourites to sign Havertz.’
But a fresh report from Sky Germany now claims that Bayern Munich were informed that Arsenal are much further ahead in their progress to complete a deal, adding that their approach ‘came too late’ and that Havertz’s preference is to remain playing in the Premier League.
It’s further claimed that Bayern have not yet made an offer for Havertz and from the German club’s point of view, they would need Arsenal to drop their interest in order to have a chance to signing the Chelsea forward this summer.
READ MORE: Arsenal £20m short on two deals; Man Utd haggle with Chelsea: rejected bids and where they stand
