https://theathletic.com/2044050/2020/09/05/havertz-transfer-mclachlan-marina-phone-call-lampard-real-madrid/
Some inside info from The Athletic on our pursuit-purchase of Havertz...
- Club started making transfer plans over a year ago when the transfer ban became a reality.
- Havertz had already been watched on several occasions. Scott McLachlan, the head of international scouting, championed Havertz to the board from a very early stage.
- Club have followed Havertz for several years. Same case with Werner but more extensive with Havertz.
- Bayern, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, Man United all reached to Havertz's representatives over the last 18 months to gauge whether they could be at the front of the queue to sign him
- Contact with Havertz's representatives were initiated around late April/early May 2019. Club had wanted to spend big and Havertz was very much in the forefront of that.
- Bayern never made any offer. Man United gave a noteworthy presentation of their own last year but didn't go any further.
- It's believed Real Madrid were Havertz's preferred destination because of their glamour and one of his idols Toni Kroos is playing for them. Even when Chelsea began stepping up the efforts earlier this year, there was suspicion he was waiting for Real to make a move.
- Chelsea benefited from the COVID-19 pandemic because it impacted Real's and Bayern's finances. They had hoped Havertz would stay another year at Leverkusen before making a move next year.
- But Havertz had decided to leave Leverkusen this summer because he felt he had outgrown the team, they didn't qualify for the Champions League and he needed a new challenge. Leverkusen also weren't willing to wait and risk decreasing his value.
- Wrong to suggest Havertz merely settled for Chelsea because it was the only option. Chelsea went from being just an option to something very desirable to Havertz.
- Club sent a message to Havertz with the signings of Werner, Ziyech etc to highlight their ambition.
- Lampard reached out to Havertz at the end of the Bundesliga season and laid out his vision of attacking football with young players at the fore. Lampard explained how he was building a new team and Havertz was going to be one of the key players. There was a feeling of freshness and momentum and Havertz wanted to be part of it.
- In contrast to the ageing squads and disarray of Real Madrid and Barcelona, Chelsea came across the more enticing adventure at this stage of Havertz's career.
- Havertz was reportedly impressed with Marina, the way Chelsea stepped on the gas and went for the deal. Stature of the Premier League helped and the challenge of winning with Chelsea is seen as a bigger thing because it's harder to do.
- Chelsea have made their intentions clear to sign Havertz before Lampard took charge.
- Havertz made up his mind to join Chelsea at the end of July.
- Agreement with Leverkusen was only finalized earlier this week. The Athletic were told on one hand, Chelsea will pay an initial figure of 62 million pounds but on the other hand, Leverkusen are confident they will receive the full asking price in time.
- Inevitably, there are questions of what his arrival will mean for some of the younger players in the squad, who fear they may be sidelined. While that is a factor, there's a lot of positive talk in the camp about Havertz and the other signings. There is acceptance that Chelsea will always make signings and signing players like Havertz will help the others raise their game and win trophies.
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