Arsenal are no strangers to recruiting players from London rivals Chelsea.
In recent years, Gunners sporting director Edu has signed the likes of David Luiz, Willian and Jorginho from the Blues, the latter still plying his trade for Mikel Arteta's side. The most recent Chelsea player to be mooted as a potential target is attacking midfielder Kai Havertz.
football.london understands that the north Londoners do indeed hold an interest in Havertz but the German international's price tag may be an issue. Chelsea are understood to want around £70 million for the 24-year-old, who has two years remaining on his current contract at Stamford Bridge.
Havertz is open to the idea of leaving and has shown no inclination toward signing a new deal with Mauricio Pochettino's side, but he will not push for a move this summer as things stand. The former Bayer Leverkusen starlet has struggled for consistently since arriving in England three years ago but his potential is clear to see.
In fact, back in 2021, Manchester United legend Gary Neville went as far as comparing Havertz to Blues icon Eden Hazard, high praise indeed considering how successful the Belgian's time in west London was. "I actually think Havertz has gone up a level, but I also think he’s in third gear", Neville told Sky Sports when asked to predict his young player of the year for the then-upcming 2021/22 campaign.
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"I think he’ll go to fourth gear, and I think he’ll go to fifth gear. I think he could become an absolutely great player.
"When he really fills out into his body, and he will do… He’s already a great runner with the ball, when he gets more confidence and belief, in two years time I think we could be seeing someone who is absolutely up there.
“I remember what Chelsea did with Eden Hazard, he went from here, to here, to here. I think that’s what Havertz will do.”
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