David Ornstein says Arsenal are now closing in on an agreement with fellow Premier League side Chelsea for the signing of Kai Havertz.
The Gunners are looking to tie up a number of deals early in the summer transfer market with Havertz, Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber believed to be the targets that Edu is currently concentrating his time on.
And Havertz could be the first over the line with The Athletic journalist Ornstein claiming that Arsenal are ‘close to an agreement’ with Chelsea over the transfer of the Germany international ‘for a fee in the region of £65million’.
Ornstein added in his report: ‘The clubs are now working to finalise the structure of the impending deal, including potential instalments and add-ons.
‘But personal terms are in place and, if all goes to plan, a medical will be scheduled ahead of the transfer being completed.’
Havertz has struggled to live up to his £71m price tag after moving to Chelsea from Bayer Leverkusen but he will always be remembered for his winning goal in the 2021 Champions League final.
OPINION: Kai Havertz is a marginal gain for Arsenal when they need giant leaps forward
Former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley would be surprised to see Havertz get into the Arsenal team next season if they stick with the same formation.
“If Arsenal were to play the same way as last year, he won’t get in the team. He doesn’t get in ahead of [Gabriel] Martinelli, he doesn’t get in ahead of [Gabriel] Jesus as a striker.
“And he certainly doesn’t get in ahead of Bukayo Saka. Then you start looking at, are Arsenal paying £70m to beef the squad up? Which effectively you might say that Man City have done that, they got [Jack] Grealish and they got [Riyad] Mahrez.
“A £70m player used to be a superstar, we could contend now that they could be a squad player. He’s really lost his way to an extent where Chelsea couldn’t score goals, he couldn’t even get a game in a team that had literally no strikers.
“And now we have Arsenal talking about paying this kind of money for him. It doesn’t add up.”
And former Aston Villa and Tottenham defender Alan Hutton thinks it’s “strange” to see Chelsea selling to one of their rivals.
“I was shocked when I heard it,” Hutton told Football Insider.
“I was not really expecting it. There is no doubt he is a talented footballer but he is not a number nine. I do not think he is a focal point like a traditional number nine.
“He is still very young, he is going to get better under the likes of Arteta and I think you will see his full potential.
“Where he fits in to that team at this moment in time I am not 100 per cent sure. But, if you want to kick on and get to the next level, they need a stronger squad.
“He obviously makes them better but Chelsea selling to a rival, it is just a bit of a strange one.”
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