The Brazilian is reported to be “upset and offended” by Chelsea’s two-year contract offer amid claims he is set to join Arsenal.
Follow all the latest transfer updates from the Bridge below…
HAV SOME OF THAT
Rudi Voller has claimed that Kai Havertz is the greatest talent he has seen at Bayer Leverkusen.
He said: “For me, he’s the best I’ve seen at Leverkusen, and I’ve been here for a lifetime.
“We had Emerson, Ballack, Ze Roberto, Kroos, but he’s on top.
“He is very young, he can play five or six roles, he has been here for ten years.
“When he was 17, I asked the first-team coach to let him train with the greats during the national team break.
“”He has talent with the ball at his feet, he is a mix between Ballack and Mesut Ozil, but he takes the best bits from both of them.”
SARRI STATE
Former Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri has reportedly been sacked by Juventus.
Sky Sport Italia journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed an official announcement will be made soon.
The decision comes after the Old Lady crashed out in the Champions League quarter-finals after the defeat against Lyon.
Sarri guided Juve to the Serie A title this season.
COUGH UP
Germany legend Rudi Voller has told Chelsea to cough up £90million for Kai Havertz adding: There’s no Covid discount.
The coronavirus may have crippled the global football economy but Bayer Leverkusen chief Voller has warned the Blues they will not get their star man on the cheap.
Asked if Havertz would go for £90m or a much lower price, Voller told Gazzetta dello Sport: “It won’t be easy, but for an artist like him there is no Covid discount.
“No, but with his talent, it means he’s on the list of all the best clubs.
“We know of the interest of a couple of clubs, especially Chelsea, but for us, the situation is quite simple; he has a two-year contract, if anyone wants him on our terms, fine, otherwise he stays here another year and we are happy.”
BEWARE OF THE DROG
Some @didierdrogba deftness for #GoalOfTheDay ? pic.twitter.com/LRiMKhHFEb
— Premier League (@premierleague) August 8, 2020
WILL I NEVER
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has likened losing Willian to when Eden Hazard departed for Real Madrid last summer.
He said: “Eden Hazard left last year, the club continues to work in a forward direction which I think we have in many ways.
“That remains the same, whatever player leaves the club.
“When a player is out of contract they have the freedom and the right to play wherever they want.
“We have to accept that and move on. I have no problems with that.”
TO BE FRANK
Frank Lampard insisted Chelsea “have done everything” they can to keep Willian as the Brazilian edges closer to signing for Arsenal.
He said: “In terms of being disappointed, certainly as a club we have done everything we can to explain to Willian.
“Mine and his relationship is very close and I would have no feeling of disappointment if he does move on. He is a fantastic man and a fantastic player.
“The club have acted very well in this as well. If he moves on I personally will wish him well. That is where we are at.
“I think he leaves a hole as a player who has been here for I think seven seasons, being part of successful teams. He has his own decisions to make. We as a club will always want to move forward, no matter what.”
BLUES BLOW
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has revealed that the club are working to give Chelsea target Marc-Andre ter Stegen a new contract.
Speaking to beIN SPORTS, he said: “With the current situation, we’ve asked to speak more calmly about it.
“But regardless, his future remains at Barca.
“When the COVID-19 situation is over, we’ll speak with him about a new contract.”
GAME DAY
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 8, 2020
HAZ BEEN
Chelsea icon Eden Hazard once again had a game to forget as Real Madrid crashed out of the Champions League at the hands of Manchester City.
The 29-year-old failed to inspire his side to victory at the Etihad as the Citizens won 2-1 to dump the 13-time European Cup winners out of the competition.
And while it was Raphael Varane that hit the headlines for making the costly mistakes for each goal, the stats show how once again Hazard proved to be ineffective.
According to Squawka, the Belgian international failed to complete a single take-on against City in the two he attemped.
Meanwhile he was successfully dribbled past twice, with the ex-Chelsea star failing to live up to his hefty price tag.
In stats obtained by Opta, Hazard completed 27 passes against Pep Guardiola’s side, with just 17 of those coming in the opposition’s half.
Hazard touched the ball a mere 37 times – the second-lowest figure of any player that started for Real on Friday night.
PRICE IS RICE
Chelsea plan to sell some of their stars to raise £65million and land West Ham’s Declan Rice.
The Blues let the defensive midfielder go for free as a kid – but boss Frank Lampard has made the England starlet his top priority this summer.
Lamps’ more straightforward idea is to flog midfielder Jorginho.
The likes of Juventus and Inter Milan are likely to pay £40m for the defensive midfielder, who is surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge.
Former Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri would like to bring the 29-year-old to the Serie A champions, says the Telegraph.
That would go most of the way to getting the cash for 21-year-old Rice.
GOOD MORNING, CHELSEA FANS,
Christian Pulisic will miss the start of next season after the Chelsea winger’s FA Cup hamstring injury ruled him out for six weeks.
The Yank peaked his fine end to the extended current campaign with a fine Wembley opener last Saturday – before limping off and seeing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang strike twice as Arsenal won 2-1.
But Blues’ boss Frank Lampard still thinks Pulisic should be upbeat for next campaign.
Lampard said: “When Christian reflects on the first season, from where he has gone in the start he should be very happy.
“We’ll get him fit and ready. If he misses the first one or two games, we’ll hopefully have him after that.”
But Pulisic could see new attacking midfielder Hakim Ziyech and Kai Havertz – if he arrives from Bayer Leverkusen – steal a march on him in the battle for a regular starting place.
And Lamps admitted of the 21-year-old’s likely absence: “Six weeks, I think so. We have to treat the injury right.”
The Chelsea boss also claimed that he backs his side to overturn their 3-0 deficit to Bayern Munich tomorrow.
He said: “I believe we can. We have to, the players have to. It’s a huge task. We have to understand the situation we’re in.
“Will be extremely tough. Games have turned to big degrees. We have to believe we have the opportunity to do something special. We’ve got to play with confidence.
“Can it free us up against a really good team? That’s what I expect to see from the team. We have to tackle this in the right way.”
IN THE FIK OF IT
Fikayo Tomori could be on his way to Ligue 1 with Rennes looking to secure the star on loan, according to The Telegraph.
The French side have an excellent record of bringing through youngsters with the likes of Abdoulaye Doucoure, Ismaila Sarr and Real Madrid target Eduardo Camavinga all developing at the club in recent years.
And they may have an extra edge due to the fact that it was the club Chelsea signed now-Sporting Director Petr Cech from.
Cech has fond memories of his time in France and was given a heroes’ welcome when he returned to the club with Arsenal in the Europa League.
— Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) August 7, 2020
CAN’T HAV EVERYTHING
Chelsea’s imminent signing of Kai Havertz means they will be priced out of a move for Jan Oblak or Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, says Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano.
Instead, he commented, cheaper targets Andre Onana and Nick Pope are top of their list of potential goalkeepers.
Romano told the Beautiful Game podcast: “They have a list, they have a list for the goalkeeper.
“They have to consider if they are going to sign Havertz, they can spend money for too many players like they did for [Hakim] Ziyech, they did for [Timo] Werner and they hope to do for Havertz.
“If they sign Havertz, they have a list and they will consider [Andre] Onana for sure.
“Another name is [Nick] Pope, at the moment it’s so, so difficult to see a big name like Ter Stegen or Oblak to Chelsea.
“As I said, they’re going to spend so much on the team this season and to sign a goalkeeper for €120million is so difficult.
“[Jan] Oblak and [Marc-Andre] Ter Stegen are really difficult targets but I think Onana is on the list.”
BRAZIL NUTS
Frank Lampard discussed whether Willian’s impending exit will leave a big hole at the club.
He said: “He’s been here for seven seasons. When I came in and we had issues with younger players, a transitional element, we relied on him for experience and quality. He has his own decision to make.
“Eden Hazard left last year, the club continues and tries to work forward. As we have done this season.
“Player has a freedom to player whenever they want when out of contract. We have to accept that and move on.”
MIRACLE IN MUNICH
Frank Lampard is optimistic that Chelsea can overturn their 3-0 deficit to Bayern Munich tomorrow.
He said: “I believe we can. We have to, the players have to. It’s a huge task. We have to understand the situation we’re in.
“Will be extremely tough. Games have turned to big degrees. We have to believe we have the opportunity to do something special. We’ve got to play with confidence.
“Can it free us up against a really good team? That’s what I expect to see from the team. We have to tackle this in the right way.”
WILL HE OR WON’T HE?
Frank Lampard has given an update on Willian’s contract situation.
He said: “Read a headline that mentioned disappointment. That doesn’t matter. Willian remains our player at the moment, he is injured.
“He’d have given everything to play. He’s carried this injury… as a club we’ve done everything we can to explain to Willian.
“Our relationship is really close but no disappointment if he moves on. A fantastic man and fantastic player. The club have acted very well in this. If he moves on I’ll wish him well.”
PUL OUT ALL THE STOPS
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has admitted that Christian Pulisic is likely to miss the start of next season through injury.
He said: “Six weeks, I think so. We have to treat the injury right. When Christian reflects on the first season, from where he has gone in the start he should be very happy.
“We’ll get him fit and ready. If he misses the first one or two games, we’ll hopefully have him after that.”
LONDON CALLING
Chelsea’s 23-man squad have landed in Germany ahead of the Champions League last-16 second leg tie against Bayern Munich.
N’Golo Kante is part of the travelling group though Cesar Azpilicueta, Christian Pulisic and Pedro miss out through injury.
Jorginho and Marcos Alonso are unavailable due to suspension, while Willian also remains absent ahead of an expected switch to Arsenal.
CECH MATE
Petr Cech is reportedly playing a key role in the hunt for Kepa Arrizabalaga’s replacement.
ESPN claim he is attempting to convince Marc-Andre ter Stegen to join the club.
Cech played a big part in convincing the Barcelona keeper’s German compatriot Timo Werner to move to Stamford Bridge earlier this summer.
HAV SOME OF THAT
Hansi Flick has confirmed that Bayern Munich will not be making a move for Chelsea target Kai Havertz this summer.
During an interview with Sport1 the Bundesliga winning manager was asked if he would like to sign the German from rivals Bayer Leverkusen..
Flick responded: “It’s not an issue, so I don’t worry about it.”
OFF BLUE GO
“Chelsea have a manager who bleeds blue, and he is being fully backed by the desire and wealth of Roman Abramovich.hings are happening at this club.
Chelsea have a manager who bleeds blue, and he is being fully backed by the desire and wealth of Roman Abramovich.
“This summer has already seen two marquee signings arrive at the club in the shape of Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner, and we are expecting a lot more activity to come.
“Chelsea need a bit of an overhaul and many players will ultimately not make it at Stamford Bridge. Here I take a look at which players I would keep around, sell, or loan out come next season.”
Read More HERE.
YOUTH BEAUTY
Chelsea’s U23 side were crowned Division One champions painting a bright future for Frank Lampard’s plans to give youth a chance.
Their U23s star man was Billy Gilmour, who is up for the Player of the Season award.
He of course broke into Lampard’s first-team before cruelly suffering a knee injury that cut short his season.
BLUES SERG NEAR
Chelsea target Sergio Reguilon has fuelled speculation of a potential switch from Real Madrid to the Premier League.
While the La Liga defender insisted his thoughts are firmly fixed on completing his loan at Sevilla, he refused to rule out a transfer to England’s top flight.
When quizzed by Marca he replied: “Who knows what will happen?”
Reguilon added: “If my year at Sevilla had not been good, then this would not be happening. These teams would not ring.
“I’ve been saying since quarantine that until the season is over I won’t be talking about my future.
“I have no complaints about anything, about the city, the club, my colleagues.
“I feel very loved. Who knows what will happen in the future.”
BLUE BEAUTY
Chelsea target Sergio Reguilon has fuelled speculation of a potential switch from Real Madrid to the Premier League.
While the La Liga defender insisted his thoughts are firmly fixed on completing his loan at Sevilla, he refused to rule out a transfer to England’s top flight.
Frank Lampard’s Blues are on the hunt for a new left-back this summer with Leicester City’s Ben Chilwell among the names reported to be on Chelsea’s target list.
And left-back Reguilon, 23, has also been strongly linked with a Stamford Bridge move.
However, the Madrid loanee and his Sevilla teammates are yet to finish their season with the club competing in the 2019-2020 Europa League contest.
Reguilon, who has enjoyed a successful loan spell at Sevilla, was named in WhoScored’s La Liga team of the season.
GIFT OF THE GAB
Former Chelsea target Gabriel is reportedly close to joining their London rivals Arsenal from Lille.
French media claim that the Gunners could sign the Brazilian defender as early as next week.
Manchester United and Everton had also been keen to snap him up.
But after Mikel Arteta’s side qualified for Europe, they have stepped up their pursuit of the centre-back.
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