Chelsea are ready to reject an opportunity of signing Philippe Coutinho for a cut-price in favour of Kai Havertz pursuit.

According to The Athletic, Chelsea have decided to cool off their pursuit of Barcelona playmaker Philippe Coutinho. The Blues have now turned their attention towards Bayer Leverkusen sensation Kai Havertz.

Coutinho is facing an uncertain future after a dismal loan spell at Bayern Munich. As a result, his parent club Barcelona are willing to offload him for a fee in the region of £50-£70 million.

However, Chelsea have decided to pass up the opportunity. Instead, they have set their sights on Bayer Leverkusen sensation Kai Havertz as Frank Lampard prepares for a major squad overhaul in the upcoming summer transfer window.

While Coutinho has been on a steady decline following his departure from Liverpool, Havertz has emerged as one of the most talented young players in world football. He has played a starring role in Leverkusen’s rise to prominence in recent years and has already featured in 139 competitive matches for the Bundesliga giants.

Last season, in particular, the 20-year-old scored 17 goals while registering four assists, making him one of the most productive players in the league. He hasn’t been able to replicate that tally in the ongoing campaign but has still been involved in 11 goals in 22 matches, helping Leverkusen compete for the Champions League slots.

Bayer's key man. (Photo by Lars Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images)
Bayer’s key man. (Photo by Lars Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Havertz’s consistent performances have also caught the attention of Joachim Loew, who considers him as a vital cog in Germany’s footballing future. The playmaker has, in fact, won seven caps for Die Mannschaft.

His maturity at the highest level of football certainly suggests the fact that he is ready to take the next step in his career. Chelsea, in that regard, could be an interesting destination, with the club experiencing a transitional phase at the moment.

Indeed, the Blues are trying usher in a new era under Lampard, who has appeared keen on revolving his team around young players. They already have the likes of Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic leading the line and with Willian being linked with a move to Arsenal, Havertz can easily fit into the system.

The German international can be deployed in the number ten role, with Mount shifting into a wider role following Willian’s department. He and Pulisic could occupy the wider attacking roles, with Abraham leading the attack and this combination could surely make Chelsea one of the feared teams in the Premier League.

However, whether or not Havertz would want to move to Stamford Bridge remains a doubt. It was reported earlier this year that the player is keen on joining Bayern Munich. So it will be interesting to see how this transfer saga takes shape in the coming months.

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