Chelsea Close to Agreement With Kai Havertz but No Deal Yet

Kai Havertz scores from the spot for Bayer Leverkusen in their Europa League last-16 first leg at Rangers in March. Photograph: Mark Runnacles/Getty Images
Kai Havertz scores from the spot for Bayer Leverkusen in their Europa League last-16 first leg at Rangers in March. Photograph: Mark Runnacles/Getty Images
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Chelsea Close to Agreement With Kai Havertz but No Deal Yet

Kai Havertz scores from the spot for Bayer Leverkusen in their Europa League last-16 first leg at Rangers in March. Photograph: Mark Runnacles/Getty Images
Kai Havertz scores from the spot for Bayer Leverkusen in their Europa League last-16 first leg at Rangers in March. Photograph: Mark Runnacles/Getty Images

Chelsea are closing in on the signing of Kai Havertz after discussing personal terms with the midfielder on a five‑year contract, although the club still have to reach an agreement with Bayer Leverkusen over a fee for the Germany international.

Frank Lampard is leading a revamp of his attack for next season, having already secured the signings of Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech, and there is growing confidence that Havertz will become the latest player to seal a move to Stamford Bridge this summer. The Leverkusen star has indicated he is willing to join Chelsea, though the deal is not done yet.

It is believed Leverkusen are holding out for as much as €90m for Havertz, with Chelsea hopeful of striking a deal worth €80m plus add‑ons. While Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Liverpool, Manchester United and Real Madrid have all been linked with the 21-year-old, Lampard’s side are at the head of the queue.

Several of Chelsea’s rivals have indicated they cannot afford him at the moment and Havertz does not want to wait until next summer for a move following Leverkusen’s failure to qualify for the Champions League via the domestic route, even if they do so by winning the Europa League.

Much could still depend on whether Chelsea, who are third in the Premier League with two games left, secure Champions League qualification this week; they visit Liverpool on Wednesday and host Wolves on Sunday. However, they remain aware of the need for speed in talks with Leverkusen. They do not want to be caught out by a rival club coming in for Havertz, who has two years left on his current deal.

Chelsea, who will face Arsenal in the FA Cup final on 1 August, are also chasing reinforcements in defensive positions. They want a new left-back but could be priced out of a move for Leicester’s Ben Chilwell, who could cost at least £60m. Ajax’s Nicolás Tagliafico, available for £22.4m, could represent better value for money.

Lampard is also considering a move for a new goalkeeper as he has reservations over the form of Kepa Arrizabalaga. Chelsea have contacted Atlético Madrid about the availability of Jan Oblak, though it is likely that they would have to meet the Slovenian’s €120m release clause.

Moving Arrizabalaga on would also be complicated as the Spaniard joined Chelsea for £71.6m two years ago. While Valencia and Sevilla have considered trying to sign Arrizabalaga on loan, it is doubtful whether they would be able to afford his wages.

The Guardian Sport



Israel's Maccabi Tel Aviv Plays Soccer Game Without Incident in Hungary

28 November 2024, Berlin: Maccabi Tel Aviv fans wave Israeli flags in the stands during the EuroLeague Basketball match between Alba Berlin and Maccabi Tel Aviv at Uber Arena. Photo: Andreas Gora/dpa
28 November 2024, Berlin: Maccabi Tel Aviv fans wave Israeli flags in the stands during the EuroLeague Basketball match between Alba Berlin and Maccabi Tel Aviv at Uber Arena. Photo: Andreas Gora/dpa
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Israel's Maccabi Tel Aviv Plays Soccer Game Without Incident in Hungary

28 November 2024, Berlin: Maccabi Tel Aviv fans wave Israeli flags in the stands during the EuroLeague Basketball match between Alba Berlin and Maccabi Tel Aviv at Uber Arena. Photo: Andreas Gora/dpa
28 November 2024, Berlin: Maccabi Tel Aviv fans wave Israeli flags in the stands during the EuroLeague Basketball match between Alba Berlin and Maccabi Tel Aviv at Uber Arena. Photo: Andreas Gora/dpa

Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv's game against Besiktas in the Europa League was played without incident before empty stands in Hungary on Thursday, with the stadium closed to fans over security concerns following attacks on Israeli supporters in Amsterdam this month.
Maccabi won the game 3-1 on a cold and rainy evening in Debrecen, Hungary's second-largest city. Groups of police patrolled outside the stadium but security levels did not appear overwhelming in the city of around 200,000 residents, The Associated Press reported.
After the match, Maccabi coach Zarko Lazetic said playing in front of an empty stadium without fans is always a struggle for the team.
“We play football because of the fans, to give them some pleasure, some excite(ment) and to be together,” he said.
Israel’s soccer teams play domestic games at home despite the Israel-Hamas war. But European soccer body UEFA has ruled that the war in Gaza means Israel cannot host international games.
The Thursday match was Maccabi’s first in Europe since its fans were assaulted in the Netherlands on Nov. 7 in attacks that were condemned as antisemitic by authorities in Israel and across Europe.
Before that match in Amsterdam, a large crowd of Israeli fans chanted anti-Arab slogans, and later, youths on scooters and on foot crisscrossed the city in search of Israeli fans, punching and kicking them, according to the city's mayor.
Five people were treated in hospitals and police detained dozens of people.
Even before the Amsterdam attacks, the European soccer body UEFA announced that Thursday’s Europa League match, originally scheduled to take place in Istanbul, would be moved to a neutral venue “following a decision by the Turkish authorities.”
Hungary, which has hosted several home games for Israel’s national team since the war in Gaza began, agreed to host the game.