Sky Germany reporting all other clubs out of race to sign Havertz; Watch Liverpool vs Chelsea, live on Sky Sports Premier League from 8pm on Wednesday; Kick-off 8.15pm
Tuesday 21 July 2020 10:10, UK
Chelsea are in talks with Bayer Leverkusen over a £70m deal to sign Kai Havertz.
Sky Germany are reporting that all other suitors for the Germany forward are now out of the race to sign the 21-year-old.
Chelsea technical adviser Petr Cech will fly to Germany following the conclusion of the Premier League season on Sunday to hold face-to-face talks.
Bayer Leverkusen are understood to value Havertz at £90m but, with only two years remaining on his contract, Chelsea are looking to agree an initial fee around £70m, with performance related add-ons also to be included.
Havertz is understood to be keen on a move to Stamford Bridge, with the player impressed by the side Frank Lampard is building.
Chelsea have already completed the signings of Havertz's Germany team-mate Timo Werner, and Ajax winger Hakim Ziyech, who will join a squad that will be expected to close the gap on Premier League champions Liverpool next season.
Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich were also interested in Havertz, but were not in a position to meet the asking price, while Manchester United are prioritising their pursuit of Jadon Sancho.
Chelsea are on the brink of securing Champions League football for next season, with a win in either of their two remaining Premier League games - against Liverpool and Wolves - enough to secure their place in Europe's top competition.
The London club were unable to sign players last summer as they served a Fifa transfer ban for breaching rules on signing young players, but appear keen to make up for lost time during the upcoming window.
Havertz recently became the first Bundesliga player to reach 35 goals before turning 21, being involved with goals in eight of his last 12 appearances - scoring eight times with four assists.
He has been likened to fellow Germans Mesut Ozil, Michael Ballack and Toni Kroos and is known in Germany as an 'alleskonner' - someone who can do everything.
But is he worth the hype?
Frank Lampard is overhauling Chelsea's frontline, with Timo Werner the latest addition to an increasingly exciting strike force in west London, after already securing the signature of Ajax's Hakim Ziyech.
With Willian, 31, looking set to depart the club along with Roma-bound Pedro at the end of their contracts this summer, Lampard and Chelsea have moved swiftly and decisively in the transfer market to refresh their options in the wide attacking roles.
How is Chelsea's 2020/21 front line coming together? Read more here.
