Chelsea transfer news: Kai Havertz, Edouard Mendy, N'Golo Kante and more

Latest news and rumours as Chelsea’s spending spree looks set to continue

Lawrence Ostlere
Wednesday 02 September 2020 16:13 BST
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Kai Havertz has been linked to Chelsea
Kai Havertz has been linked to Chelsea (Getty Images)

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Kai Havertz has already passed his Chelsea medical and is poised to complete a £72m transfer from Bayer Leverkusen, according to Bild. The German publication reports Havertz is on the brink of a switch which would take Chelsea’s summer spending beyond £200m, and could be announced before the weekend.

Meanwhile Sky Sports is reporting that the 21-year-old’s transfer is still subject to final negotiations between the two clubs and is not yet finalised, with his medical unconfirmed, so perhaps Chelsea fans shouldn’t celebrate just yet.

The next player on Lampard’s long shopping list is Edouard Mendy, according to L’Equipe. The Rennes goalkeeper is expected to replace Kepa Arrizabalaga, who had a poor season in 2019-20, if Chelsea can get a deal over the line.

An initial bid of £15m was rejected by Rennes, but it is reported that Chelsea are now preparing a fresh offer for Mendy, and that Rennes are actively searching for a replacement.

Alphonse Areola is Rennes’ top priority. The Frenchman spent last season on loan at Real Madrid from PSG and is not currently in the Ligue 1 champions’ plans for the upcoming campaign.

Meanwhile the former Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri has backed N’Golo Kante to be a success in Serie A, should he leave the Blues this summer. Kante is on Inter Milan’s target list and they are thought to be preparing a £60m offer for the French international in order to reuinte him with Antonio Conte.

Ranieri, who managed Kante at Leicester as they won the Premier League title, told Gazetta Dello Sport: “He would be an excellent acquisition for the Nerazzurri certainly, but absolutely for the Italian league.

“Kante is a golden boy, a great professional, who always knows how to put passion and enthusiasm at the team’s disposal. On the field he is always moving, he is generous and good at recovering and distributing the ball. ”He has good qualities, even if he is not a playmaker, but it is very difficult for him to miss a pass because he always plays the role with great attention and concentration.

“He is a world champion, he would further raise the level of our league.”

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