Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was initially reluctant to provide the funds for the Blues to sign Kai Havertz, according to a report.

German international Havertz is set to complete a switch to Stamford Bridge in what could turn into Chelsea’s record transfer move.

The 21-year-old is expected to move from Bayer Leverkusen in an initial £70million deal, which could end up rising to as much as £90million depending on add-ons.

That will usurp the Blues’ current record purchase of £71.6million for goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who they made the most expensive stopper in world football when they bought him from Athletic Bilbao in the summer of 2018.

Havertz’s arrival looks to be the most expensive new addition of an exciting Chelsea summer which includes moves for Thiago Silva and Ben Chilwell, as well as the completed transfers of Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner.

Defender Malang Sarr – the 21-year-old who is out of contract having left Nice – is also set to arrive at Stamford Bridge, although he seems set to be immediately loaned out by the Blues.

They claim that the Russian billionaire wasn’t happy with the initial asking price of a full £90million, and it was only when the structure of the deal was altered that Abramovich was willing to play ball.

Chelsea are now set to pay the fee for Havertz across a series of instalments, with the transfer due to be completed before the start of the Premier League season.

Of Chelsea’s other targets, Chilwell is said to be the closest to completing his £50million switch from Leicester to Stamford Bridge, with an announcement expected in due course.

source:- fcnaija