Chelsea will only pay £72m upfront for Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Kai Havertz, according to Goal correspondent Nizaar Kinsella.
It is thought that there is another £18m due if certain team performance-related targets are met. Although the club are still eventually expected to pay the full £90m, supporters on Twitter are happy with how the deal has been negotiated:
Let it be done already
— Damon22 (@Damon2218) August 31, 2020
72 million for real???
— Emma Chelsea Da Silva (@EmmaRaphael90) August 31, 2020
72?? not bad for a young player with potential.. credits to Marina
— Roji (@mkolwey) August 31, 2020
Hell yea?
— Rico (@Ricoblack07) August 31, 2020
Marina ???
— Mohit Dhawan (@manuudhawan) August 31, 2020
Welcome to Chelsea FC @kaihavertz29 ? pic.twitter.com/OdEt9xhbSK
— VICTOR (@Vee_TheDude) August 31, 2020
At the time of writing, Havertz hasn’t been officially announced as a Chelsea player but after not turning up for preseason training with Leverkusen, it is thought it is only a matter of time before a transfer is confirmed.
A medical will have to take place, while some paperwork also needs to be signed, but the main details in terms of the transfer fee, add-ons and personal terms have all been sorted out.
If the deal is made official, Havertz will become Chelsea’s record signing, eclipsing the £71.6m that the Blues paid to sign Kepa Arrizabalaga two years ago.