Chelsea transfer roundup: Kai Havertz boss drops major hint as Inter eye Kante

Chelsea have had an extremely busy summer by anyone’s standards, and it could be about to get even busier.

The Blues made three defensive signings last week, with Thiago Silva and Malang Sarr arriving on free transfers after Ben Chilwell’s big-money switch from Leicester City.

The trio join Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech on Chelsea ’s books going into the 2020/21 season, and they could well be followed by more household names at both ends of the pitch as Frank Lampard looks to build a side capable of a title challenge.

We’ve got the latest on number one target Kai Havertz, as well as updates on two potential departures – one significantly closer than the other.

Bayer boss drops major hint on Havertz exit

Chelsea’s wait to finalise their move for Havertz could soon be over, with Bayer Leverkusen manager Peter Bosz having dropped a big hint about the player’s future.

Havertz is expected to move to Stamford Bridge in what will be a club-record deal for the Blues worth a reported £89.5m.

He is currently preparing to represent Germany in their UEFA Nations League matches against Spain and Switzerland, and Bosz revealed in a press conference that he doesn’t expect the 21-year-old to return to Leverkusen training after the international fixtures.

“I no longer expect that Kevin Volland and Kai Havertz will train with us again,” Bosz said at a press conference, as reported by football.london.

“It is possible that other players will also switch. We definitely have to bring players in too.”

German forward Volland, who finished last season as Leverkusen’s second-highest Bundesliga scorer behind Havertz, is expected to join Monaco.

Inter ponder sales to raise Kante funds

Antonio Conte remains keen on a reunion with N’Golo Kante, but his Inter Milan side face a financial obstacle if they want to secure a deal.

The Frenchman was Conte’s second senior Chelsea signing after Michy Batshuayi, and helped the Blues win the Premier League in the 2016/17 season.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, via Inside Futbol, Inter are looking at offloading either Marcelo Brozovic or Milan Skriniar to free up funds for the World Cup winner.

While Chelsea are not believed to be desperate to let Kante move on, the impending arrival of Havertz is expected to take their summer spending beyond £200m and a big-money bid for a current squad member could be entertained.

Kante struggled with injuries last season, playing just 22 league games – the lowest tally of his top-flight career.

Gallagher passes medical ahead of loan move

Chelsea youngster Conor Gallagher has moved one step closer to a loan move away after passing a medical at Crystal Palace.

According to football.london, the 20-year-old midfielder will move to Selhurst Park for the season without an option for the Eagles to make his switch permanent.

Gallagher is yet to make his senior competitive debut for Chelsea, but impressed last season during two separate loan spells in the Championship, playing 26 league games for Charlton Athletic and 21 for Swansea City – including both legs of their play-off semi-final against Brentford.

He is the third Blues player to join Palace on loan in the last four seasons, after Ruben Loftus-Cheek in 2017/18 and Michy Batshuayi the following season.

Chelsea have already sent a number of players out on loan for the forthcoming campaign, with Marc Guehi – who also ended last season at Swansea – returning to the Liberty Stadium for the 2020/21 season.