Real Madrid’s interest in Kai Havertz has been confirmed by top insider Fabrizio Romano today.
He says the Spanish giants have “concrete interest” in Havertz, and that the German is “really appreciated” by manager Carlo Ancelotti, who has been signed up for another year at the helm.
One interesting wrinkle in Romano’s Tweet is that the club only want an “important fee” for the attacker. They aren’t interested in a loan.
We had previously thought of a loan as a good solution. Real Madrid want a backup for Karim Benzema, but with Jude Bellingham about to join them for €100m, it will be hard to buy Havertz outright.
A successful loan could set them up nicely for a year’s time, when Benzema will almost certainly go, and Madrid will need a permanent solution.
But we can also see why Chelsea wouldn’t sanction it – they don’t want an expensive asset getting a year closer to the end of his deal without a big reward. They want to know whether they should be planning for a team with Havertz or without, not getting stuck in yearly struggle to find him a new home as they are with Romelu Lukaku at the moment.
There is a long time left in this window, and we may yet see a change in stance from one of two parties involved. Which it will be, remains to be seen.