Chelsea emphatically denies that director Marina Granovskaia has attempted to compile a dossier of potential weaknesses at Bayer Leverkusen that could be used to persecute Kai Havertz.
Leverkusen’s star Havertz is Frank Lampard’s next top goal this summer after Chelsea signed Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech for a total of £ 89m before the new season.
There were rumors that Granovskaia had spoken to contacts in Germany to get information about the Leverkusen hierarchy that could help the Stamford Bridge side if they tried to bargain a transfer fee for the star midfielder.
But Chelsea has firmly rejected these claims.
“We strongly reject these proposals. These claims are completely fake,” a Chelsea spokesman told PA news agency.
(Image: Rex)
Granovskaia is the most trustworthy advisor to Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and oversees the club’s transfer strategy – especially with regard to negotiations.
The 45-year-old Russian was credited for playing hardball last summer in Eden Hazard’s £ 130m transfer from Stamford Bridge to Real Madrid.
And their well-known negotiating skills could come into play if Havertz in London continues to pursue this summer.
This week’s reports say Chelsea and Leverkusen are still about £ 20m apart in their respective ratings of the player, with the Bundesliga club apparently determined to keep its full price of £ 91m.
(Image: Getty Images)
Havertz is expected to move to Chelsea. Agreement on the fee is considered the final piece of the puzzle as the blues strengthen their squad before an attack in the Premier League and Champions League next season.
Leverkusen’s sports director Rudi Voller, however, has insisted that the 21-year-old stay for the rest of the club’s Europa League season, which may mean Chelsea can’t sign him until after the August 21 final.
In the meantime, Lampard Havertz may be able to give his “dream” number after the FA Cup final.
Willian is expected to leave Stamford Bridge after Chelsea’s Wembley clash with Arsenal on Saturday as his contract expires.
This will free his No. 10 shirt – something Havertz has publicly declared his “dream” when he looks at his next move.
.
