Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has bared plans that will see the Blues continue their raid on rising Bundesliga stars. Following the completion of the deal that will bring RB Leipzig ace Timo Werner to Stamford Bridge next season, Lampard is setting his sight on Kai Havertz, also a transfer target by rival clubs in Europe.
The German playmaker has made an impact in the season starring for Bayer Leverkusen by scoring 15 goals in 43 appearances. Havertz has generated enough buzz that caught the attention of Juventus, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Liverpool, and Manchester United.
The 20-year-old, however, will not come cheap as Leverkusen will reportedly demand no less £75 million for the release of the attacking midfielder.
Mirror said Lampard is hoping that the youngster will pick Chelsea from the pack of suitors pursuing him because the Blues will be welcoming Werner soon. The Leipzig striker and Havertz are teammates with Germany so the latter signing up will serve as a reunion for the two players.
If the deal with Leverkusen will be completed, Lampard will be getting a flexible frontline figure that he can deploy on the pitch both as a center-forward or as a winger. The midfielder is seen as a perfect complement to Chelsea's main attacking options of Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount, the report added.
The planned move on Havertz, however, will likely eliminate other signing options for Chelsea in the upcoming transfer window. That's because Lampard has already allocated £52 million for the expected signing of Werner and Havertz' transfer fee will certainly deplete what's left of the Blues' kitty.
Lampard though has indicated he is ready to make adjustments to make room for the young German forward at Stamford. According to Metro, the English manager will restructure his hiring plans in the next 12 months for Chelsea to fund the acquisition of Havertz.
This decision will directly benefit keeper Kepa Arrizabalega, marked by Chelsea to be replaced when the hiring period begins. The 25-year-old has been a disappointment but Lampard said he is likely to keep the Spaniard until the end of next season to free money for the purchase of Havertz.
In making his bid for the German playmaker, the Blues boss knew he needs to move quickly and be decisive as other teams would love to get first on Havertz. Lampard will likely replicate the approach he used in winning the signature of Werner - give the price demanded by Leverkusen and offer the youngster a salary package that is hard to refuse.
One good thing going for Lampard is that the Chelsea board has backed with hiring plans with sufficient funding despite the financial imbalances that came amid the coronavirus pandemic.
