Arsenal have reportedly made an improved offer worth £60m to sign Kai Havertz from Chelsea.
The Gunners saw their opening offer of £50m rejected by Chelsea shortly after their shock interest in the German international emerged, but they have continued to negotiate with the Blues with Mikel Arteta considering him a priority signing this summer.
The Daily Mail claim they have now made an improved verbal offer of £55m plus £5m in add-ons.
Havertz wants to join Arsenal and it’s thought a broad agreement is in place over personal terms, with a long-term contract worth around £210,000 per week said to be on the table.
Signed for £71m in the summer of 2020, Chelsea value Havertz – who scored the winner in the 2021 Champions League final – at roughly the same price.
But they desperately need to get rid of players before June 30 to include sales in their books for the 2022/23 season in order to comply with FFP regulations having spunked £600m on new players.
Interest in Havertz came as something of a surprise seeing as he has struggled for consistency in the Premier League for Chelsea – is he anything more than a marginal gain?
But Arteta is a huge admirer of the 24-year-old’s versatility, with ESPN claiming Arsenal have hinted at using Havertz as a No.10, No.8 or in any of the three forward positions in their 4-3-3 system.
Back in February 2022, having been moved around the Chelsea side on a game-by-game basis, Havertz opened up on what he believes to be his best position.
“I started my career as a number eight, or a number 10,” Havertz said.
“In Germany I played also as a left and right winger, and in the last year as a number nine at Chelsea.
“I cannot say I have a favourite position.
“Nowadays you have to adapt your game to different positions.
“That makes a player stronger. The manager can switch it around if the opponent does something different.
“I don’t have a favourite position, but I like to be in the box, close to the goal, and have the ball.
“The false nine suits me well, but when we have three strikers with two number 10s and a number nine, all these positions suit me.
“I know I’m not a real number nine just waiting in the box and doing headers. I want to be influential in the game, get the ball, sometimes drop into midfield, and start attacks there.”
READ MORE: Arsenal have had £175m worth of offers turned down already: rejected bids and where they stand
