Chelsea target Kai Havertz looks set to leave Bayer Leverkeusen after head coach Peter Bosz confirmed he does not expect the German international to train with the Bundesliga club again.
The Blues have been linked with a move for the 21-year-old for much of the summer, and Bosz’s comments on Monday intensified speculation of an imminent deal.
Havertz is reported to have agreed a five-year contract at Stamford Bridge earlier this month amid claims of an €80million (£72m) deal plus a further €20m (£18m) in bonuses.
The midfielder is currently with the national side in Stuttgart ahead of Nations League clashes with Spain and Switzerland.
“Kevin Volland and the national players didn’t participate today in training today,” the Leverkusen boss was widely quoted in the German media as saying.
“I don’t expect Volland and Havertz to train with us again. It’s possible more players will transfer and we definitely still have to add some players.”
Havertz chalked up 12 goals and six assists from 30 Bundesliga matches last season, helping Leverkusen to a fifth-place finish and Europa League qualification.
He has been a regular starter in the Leverkusen side over the past four seasons, netting 45 goals in 148 appearances across all competitions.
If completed, it would be Frank Lampard’s seventh signing of a prolific summer transfer spree after the arrivals of Thiago Silva, Ben Chilwell, Timo Werner, Malang Sarr, Hakim Ziyech, and Xavier Mbuyamba.
Bosz added: “There are clubs and people, like Roman Abramovich in this case probably, who are able to and want to pay it.
“They will have calculated it well. Kai is not the only player joining Chelsea this summer.”