Chelsea could use defender as a deal sweetener for marquee signing

Premier League giants Chelsea are reportedly prepared to offer Malang Sarr on loan to Bayer Leverkusen as a deal sweetner to bag the signature of Kai Havertz. 

Blues boss Frank Lampard continues to build his own squad at Stamford Bridge, and Havertz is the next big name and the marquee signing linked with a move. Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner and Ben Chilwell have already joined the club this summer and Sarr was another recruit, joining on a free transfer from Nice.

According to reports in England, the 21-year-old could be loaned out to Bayer Leverkusen, with Havertz coaxed to move to West London as part of the deal. It has been claimed previously that the Blues have agreed an initial club-record £72 million fee to sign the 21-year-old starlet after months of haggling. But with Leverkusen wanting near-£90m for their star man, Sarr could prove the trick up the sleeve for the Blues. 

Havertz is ready to pen a five-year contract worth more than £300,000 a week to taking him into the top earnings league. The deal will make him the Premier League's fourth-highest earner behind only Mesut Ozil, David De Gea and Kevin De Bruyne. 

The attacker's absence from Leverkusen's pre-season fitness tests on Sunday further fuelled speculations that his move to Chelsea was imminent. The Bundesliga side's manager Peter Bosz admitted that it is only a matter of time before Havertz is officially unveiled as a Blue. 

He said: "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." 

Volland is expected to join French side AS Monaco this summer. 

21-year-old Havertz has been a star at BayArena since he became the club's youngest-ever Bundesliga player in October 2016. 

A tally of 18 goals and nine assists in all competitions last season was not enough to secure the club Champions League football, pushing him towards a mega move.

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