Chelsea Close To Agreeing Kai Havertz, Ben Chilwell And Thiago Silva deals
Chelsea are close to agreeing deals to sign Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Kai Havertz, Leicester left-back Ben Chilwell and former Paris Saint-Germain captain Thiago Silva.
Havertz has received interest from some of the biggest clubs in Europe but is now set to move to Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea close to concluding a deal with Leverkusen that could be worth up to £90m.
The Blues are also likely to add Chilwell to their ranks, with talks between them and Leicester continuing on Monday. The England international is understood to be keen on the move and a source has told Sky Sports News that the deal is “almost there”.
While 21-year-old Havertz and 23-year-old Chilwell would add youth to Frank Lampard’s squad, Thiago Silva would provide some much needed experience in defence.
Chelsea conceded 54 Premier League goals last season – more than any other side in the top half of the table – and 35-year-old Silva would be expected to help rectify the problem.
Silva is available on a free transfer after leaving PSG. His eight-year stay in the French capital came to an end on Sunday night with defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League final.
Lampard is in the process of overhauling his Chelsea side following his first season in charge, in which he led the club to fourth place in the Premier League and the FA Cup final.
He has already added Hakim Ziyech from Ajax and Timo Werner from RB Leipzig for a combined £83m and Havertz, Chilwell and Silva now look set to follow.
Havertz tipped to become Chelsea superstar
German football expert Raphael Honigstein:
“He has work to do and has things to prove because he’s only just turned 21, but he’s an outstanding talent, there’s absolutely no doubt about that. He’s in a position where he could dominate the German national team over the next decade, depending on his position,” he told the Transfer Talk podcast.
“Will he play in the No 10 role and become the new Mesut Ozil or will he settle a bit deeper and become the new Toni Kroos? He’s got the ability to play almost anywhere in front of the defence.
“If you look at the unique combination he has of technical ability and eye for a pass, but also having the ability to score and create goals himself, and his runs to be good in the air, I think the best way to sum it up is that he’s a cross between Mesut Ozil and Michael Ballack.”
