CHELSEA FC CLOSE IN ON £90m SIGNING OF BAYER LEVERKUSEN PLAYMAKER, KAI HAVERTZ

The Blues’ aggressive summer rebuild is set to continue as they close in on three signings that could take their expenditure to as much as £220m

Chelsea are in advanced talks over a move for Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Kai Havertz after agreeing to pay the Bundesliga outfit’s full asking price of £90 million ($118m).

The Blues will pay an initial £72m ($95m) to bring the 21-year-old to Stamford Bridge, with the remainder of the fee to made up in installments

Germany international Havertz is set to become Chelsea’s record transfer, with the deal to sign him surpassing the £72m ($95m) fee paid to Athletic Club in 2018 for Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Havertz has long had an agreement in place with the Bundesliga club that he can move away for their asking price as he targets the next step in his career.

Leverkusen wanted the money upfront, but with their star man pushing for the move, they seem willing to relent on small details to complete his departure.

The west Londoners had to ultimately offer more than their last bid, which fell (£18m ($24m) short for the soon-to-be most expensive German transfer of all time.

Havertz’s imminent arrival marks a further statement of intent from Chelsea following the signings of Ajax playmaker Hakim Ziyech and RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner for a combined cost of £91m ($114m) earlier this year.