Mauricio Pochettino appears to have had the final say on the future of Kai Havertz at Chelsea. The 24-year-old forward has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid, with the Blues expected to conduct a summer clear out.
The former Tottenham boss has been tasked with conducting a summer clear out at Stamford Bridge this summer. Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are among a handful of players who face uncertain futures in west London.
With Pochettino just as eager to bolster his frontline as he is the midfield, Havertz has also been under the magnifying glass. The Germany international, who sees his contract expire in 2025, has featured 35 times for Chelsea in the Premier League this season, directly contributing towards just eight goals.
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While Havertz's technical prowess must not be underestimated, his unimpressive performances played a key role in the Blues' disappointing campaign. Despite the German's struggles, Real Madrid are expected to launch a move to sign him this summer with Carlo Ancelotti reportedly an admirer.
According to Spanish outlet AS, Los Blancos will look to Havertz if they cannot prise Harry Kane from Tottenham. However, the report states that Madrid are set for disappointment, claiming that Pochettino sees the German as an 'essential' member of his rebuild project.
AS add that Chelsea are open to offers for Havertz, but the Argentine will likely block his departure. Earlier this year, the Blues ace was heavily linked with a move to Bayern Munich, which he later rubbished by insisting that he's happy in west London.
While on international duty in March, he told Sport Bild: "Bayern are generally a huge club that it's hard to say no to as a German player. But my personal goal has always been to play abroad at some point. In England or Spain."
Some Chelsea fans weren't too happy with Havertz's comments, but then in an interview with the official club website a few days later he said: "After the bad times we had – and the beginning of the year was very bad – we have progressed quite well.
"After bad times you’re going to see the sun again. In my career as well I knew when I had bad times to just continue my work and it was going to be fine.
"Of course we lost some times, our table position is bad, but the fans can be excited for the next few months and years, and everything that happens, because we have bought some good-quality players and they are going to achieve some big things here."
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