Chelsea attacker Kai Havertz has reportedly completed the first part of his Arsenal medical ahead of his £65m switch to the Emirates Stadium.
The Germany international is expected to become the Gunners’ first signing on a long-term contract after Arsenal struck an agreement with Chelsea for an initial fee of £62m.
Arsenal could end up paying another £3m in performance-related add-ons and have won the race to prise Havertz away from Chelsea amid reports of interest from Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
With Havertz currently on holiday ahead of the pre-season period, the 24-year-old’s medical took place abroad, and Fabrizio Romano now claims that he has completed the first part of those tests.
Arsenal and Havertz need only sign the contracts to make the transfer official, and the deal is expected to be completed at some point this week.
Havertz is expected to be handed the number 29 shirt at the Emirates Stadium – which he has worn throughout his senior club career – as he prepares to bid farewell to Chelsea after a mixed three-year spell.
The former Bayer Leverkusen man will be fondly remembered for his winning goal in the 2020-21 Champions League final against Manchester City, one of 32 strikes he came up with for the Blues.
Havertz also produced 15 assists in 139 games, but there is a consensus that he failed to hit the same previous heights that earned him an €80m (£68.7m) move to Chelsea in 2020.
During the 2022-23 season, Havertz only came up with nine goals in 47 matches across all tournaments, although his seven strikes in the Premier League saw him end the Blues’ campaign as their highest league scorer.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has apparently been a driving force in his side’s move for Havertz, and his former Blues teammate Jorginho has dropped a major hint that the pair will soon be reunited in North London.
Jorginho and Havertz recently attended the wedding of Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, and the former uploaded a photo of the duo to an Instagram story with eyes and crying laughter emojis.
Despite occupying a central attacking position for most of the 2022-23 season, there have been suggestions that Havertz could revert to a midfield role under Arteta amid the Gunners’ expected midfield rejig.
Granit Xhaka – who matched Havertz’s tally of seven Premier League goals last term – is expected to seal a £13m move to Leverkusen once the German arrives, and Havertz could therefore take the Switzerland captain’s spot on the left-hand side of the midfield trident.
Arsenal are also continuing to work on a deal for West Ham United’s Declan Rice after failing with £80m and £90m bids, and the Hammers are supposedly expecting their capital counterparts to break the £100m mark with a new offer.
Southampton’s Romeo Lavia is believed to have agreed personal terms with Arsenal, as has Ajax defender Jurrien Timber, who has now been the subject of a second official offer amid reports of a verbal agreement being struck between the two clubs.
