Mikel Arteta Praises Kai Havertz as Arsenal Close in on £65million Deal
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Mikel Arteta has praised Kai Havertz as Arsenal close in on a £65 million deal for the forward from rivals Chelsea. The Gunners have agreed the transfer fee with the Blues and the Germany international, 24, is expected to complete a medical in the coming days before signing a long-term contract.
Speaking to Spanish outlet Marca, Arteta said: “Talent comes at a price, and at Arsenal we are always interested in youngsters with experience. I repeat, I'm not talking about players from other clubs, but in the case of Kai he has already shown a lot, including in the Champions League. He is a talented player, versatile and only 24 years old.”
Havertz has often been deployed as a central forward in his time with Chelsea, yet his first 91 Premier League games have brought just 19 goals. However, he has shown finishing ability, with his composed strike in the 2021 Champions League final winning the trophy for Chelsea against Man City. He has also been entrusted with the role for his country, Germany, with the hope being that he can flourish into becoming a prolific goalscorer.
Havertz may feature in a deeper role for Arsenal, but it is unclear how they would line-up with playmaker Martin Odegaard retaining his central attacking role behind the striker with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli thriving in the wide attacking positions.
Alongside their move for Havertz, Arsenal have also lodged a bid for Ajax defender Jurrien Timber who had been a primary transfer target for Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag – who coached him at the Amsterdam giants. Arteta’s side are reportedly willing to break their transfer record to pay £90 million to West Ham and offer Rice £300,000-a-week. Rice is their number one priority, but the Gunners will face plenty of competition for his services – with Manchester City also tabling a bid.
The signing of Havertz would be a major coup for Arsenal, and if they can complete the deal it could be the catalyst for a new era of success at the Emirates. It is clear that Arteta is looking to strengthen his squad in order to compete for major honours, and the addition of Havertz would give them a huge boost in their quest for silverware.
