June 22, (THEWILL) – Arsenal have identified Kai Havertz as the potential midfield replacement for Granit Xhaka, with the German international set to make a move from Chelsea to the North London club.
The deal is estimated to be worth £65 million, equivalent to the amount Chelsea paid to acquire Havertz from Bayer Leverkusen three years ago. Chelsea’s co-owners, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, wanted Havertz to either agree to a lower salary or consider offers from other clubs in the current transfer window. By selling Havertz before June 30, Chelsea can include the transfer in their 2022-23 accounts, which helps offset their significant spending in the first year of new ownership.
Arsenal was able to match Chelsea’s valuation and convince Havertz with their vision of how he would fit into manager Mikel Arteta’s dynamic system. The move to Arsenal is expected to see Havertz deployed as a left-sided No. 8, providing him with the freedom to link play in the final third and contribute to attacks from midfield. His previous successes have come when playing as a No. 10 in a 3-4-3 formation, both during his time at Chelsea and Bayer Leverkusen. Havertz’s off-ball movement and ability to make runs into the box make him a suitable fit for Arsenal’s attacking style.
However, he will face the challenge of replicating Xhaka’s defensive contributions in his new midfield role. Nevertheless, his work ethic without the ball has been recognised at Chelsea, and Arteta must believe he can thrive in this position. For Chelsea, the decision to sell Havertz has business implications as it allows them to offload his wages and gain flexibility for future signings. The departure of Havertz, who is entering what is considered the prime years of his career, is a significant move for Chelsea. The club has previously seen players such as David Luiz, Willian, and Jorginho make direct moves to Arsenal since 2019.
The transfer fee Arsenal is paying reflects their belief in Havertz’s potential within their system. The success of this transfer will ultimately depend on how effectively Havertz adapts to his new role as a left-sided No. 8 in Arsenal’s team.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
