Arsenal are believed to be ready to step up their interest in a deal to sign Kai Havertz, with the club hoping for Chelsea to reduce their asking price.
Real Madrid are also keen on the attacker, with Chelsea ready to sell as they look set to offload up to ten players this summer transfer window.
The West London club are reportedly willing to consider offers around £70m for the 24-year-old, whose contract expires in June 2025.
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A similar price would be needed to sign Mason Mount, with the duo reported to be on their way out of Stamford Bridge despite their joint-success in winning the Champions League in 2021.
According to the Daily Telegraph, Arsenal are willing to make a lower offer, with Declan Rice reported to be the Gunners’ main transfer priority.
But, huge praise from Thierry Henry for Havertz could convince them to push for an agreement soon, with the French legend making a comparison to Robin van Persie.
After Chelsea’s victory against Dortmund in the Champions League earlier this campaign, Henry made the comparison to van Persie when speaking as a pundit.
“I thought he was good on the first goal you could see held the ball ever so well,” Henry told CBS Sports. “He reminds me sometimes, a little, of Robin back to goal the way he can hold the ball. Robin van Persie was very good with his left foot, the touch was always immaculate he tried to bring people along.
“This is why out of the guys that used to be wingers or No.10 he plays as a nine because with his his back to goal he can hold the ball well. Now he needs to make sure he can transform that into more goals because you can play off him.”
Havertz has often been used as a striker in his time with Chelsea, with the role yet to produce the goal tally expected of a top striker.
His first 91 Premier League matches have seen only 19 goals, van Persie, meanwhile, scored 28 in his first 87 league games for Arsenal.
