Arsenal move for £70m Kai Havertz as well as Declan Rice with Chelsea eyeing replacement

Mikel Arteta's Arsenal won't rest on their laurels this summer as they look to build on last season's Premier League title near miss, with Kai Havertz potentially following Declan Rice to north London

Posted Thursday, June 15, 2023 by Dailystar.co.uk

Arsenal move for £70m Kai Havertz as well as Declan Rice with Chelsea eyeing replacement
Kai Havertz has reportedly informed Chelsea he wants to leave, with Arsenal said to be interested

Arsenal are sparing no expense in their bid to make good on their Premier League title aspirations amid rumours Chelsea's Kai Havertz could follow Declan Rice to the Emirates.

The Gunners are yet to confirm the signing of West Ham talisman Rice, though his transfer is believed to be 'close' as he eyes a move to north London. That deal in itself was expectged to take up the vast majority of Arsenal's transfer budget, with the Hammers insisting on a fee of around £100million for the player.

However, there may be more funds available to Mikel Arteta after The Guardian reported his side are 'strong contenders' to sign Havertz. The Germany international is said to be keen on leaving Stamford Bridge after a historically bad season, and the Blues are understood to be willing to sell for £70m.

The Athletic add the Gunners have already made an opening proposal to recruit Havertz in recent days and are moving to sign him, although Thomas Tuchel's Bayern Munich - who pulled out of the race to sign Rice - are also keen.

Arsenal are liable to face competition in the hunt for both targets, with Manchester United and Manchester City having been linked with Rice in the past. The Gunners will hope this season's close-run race for the league crown helps convince the anchor of their project while giving him the chance to remain closer to his London roots.

As for Havertz, Real Madrid are also reportedly interested in the former Bayer Leverkusen gem after seeing veteran striker Karim Benzema move to Saudi Arabia. That being said, the prospect of a more permanent move into the frontman role may not appeal to Havertz given he's often been played out of position there at Chelsea.

And the Blues already have their replacement lined up in the event Havertz does leave, with £30m-rated Nicolas Jackson of Villarreal on their shortlist.

Declan Rice has been linked with a high-profile move to the Emirates

Gambia-born Jackson, 21, joined the Yellow Submarine's academy in late 2019 but didn't make his first-team debut until two years later. It wasn't until August 2022 that he scored his first goal for the club, but he's since embarked on a stellar run of scoring form.

The Senegal international came close to joining Bournemouth this past January in a £22.5m deal. However, the move fell through after the Cherries discovered the extent of his hamstring injury, which would limit his impact in their push against relegation.

Arsenal move for £70m Kai Havertz as well as Declan Rice with Chelsea eyeing replacement
Nicolas Jackson won La Liga's final Player of the Month award

It's all worked out for the youngster, who returned to fitness and scored nine times in Villarreal's last eight games of the league campaign. To put that into context, Havertz netted the same amount in 47 appearances across all competitions this season.

It's easy to see how Rice could slot into Arteta's plans, though it's more difficult to envision Havertz's place given his preference in the No. 10 role. Wingers Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli were among the team's most effective players last season, while Gabriel Jesus looks comfortable at the tip of that trident.

There are numerous assets at the Emirates who could raise funds for Arsenal this summer, with Granit Xhaka expected to join Leverkusen and Kieran Tierney being linked to Newcastle. However, the ambition of the investment is further proof the Gunners are serious about next term's title intentions.