Kai Havertz enters the rumor mill as Bayern, Chelsea mull Hudson-Odoi options — reports

Chelsea remain banned from signing (registering) new players this summer (and winter), but our appeal to the CAS may yet turn that around so plans are still being made in earnest for a big summer in the transfer market.

Amid several players whom Chelsea might want to take a look at, one of the first names should be Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Kai Havertz.

In fact (fact?), according to ESPN’s Raphael Honigstein, Chelsea are among many who are keeping a close eye on the 19-year-old, who just may have been the best player in the Bundesliga this season with 16 goals and 3 assists.

Of course, that also means that Bayern Munich are also circling like the vultures that they are, ready to make Kai the latest German talent to get hoovered up.

Havertz’s price tag does warrant a pause however, for any and all interested parties.

He has been rated at a minimum of €100 million, commensurate with his age, skill, and potential. And while that amount may be too steep for Chelsea or Bayern, Manchester United may not be so averse. After a wholly disappointing season, despite the brief promise of a resurgence under Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, United are said to be in full rebuilding mode and Havertz could very well be a young player to build future titles around.

For Bayern and Chelsea, this situation also ties into the future of Callum Hudson-Odoi, who remains contracted to Chelsea only through next season. The Blues are hoping that the 18-year-old, who was named Chelsea Young Player of the Year on Friday can be convinced to stay. Bayern meanwhile are concerned by the impact of his Achilles injury before resuming their pursuit in earnest.

Earlier this week, German tabloid BILD reported that higher-ups at in Munich have assigned club doctor Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohfahrt (he of Pep Guardiola conlifct fame) to make an assessment of Hudson-Odoi’s injury. It’s unclear how he would go about doing that, but it is worth noting that Bayern did the same in the case of Lucas Hernandez before he sealed a transfer to Germany in March. But Hudson-Odoi has neither a release clause nor are Chelsea looking to sell him, which makes this claim look hilarious and silly, to say the least. Assessing Callum’s injury history and past medical records is one thing, but it’s highly doubtful Chelsea would allow Bayern Munich to come anywhere near our wonderkid, let alone carry a physical examination on him.

BILD’s report also talks about CHO and Die Roten being in agreement over a transfer, with a transfer fee discounted to around €25 million due to his injury, which should be taken with a pinch mountain of salt at this point.

With so many moving parts to this situation, including Chelsea’s possible transfer ban, it’s difficult to know what to trust and believe. It does look like that Chelsea are at least making an effort to renew the squad, “helped” in part by the potential exit of Eden Hazard and several other veterans not named David Luiz. Havertz could be way too expensive for us — how much are Real Madrid willing to pay again? — but that would not be the case for CHO, especially if we are able to convince him that he can reach the heights he seeks here at Chelsea, too.

For that to happen, a new contract is imperative. Not just to end this CHO-to-Bayern silliness, but also to reward him as yet another Chelsea youngster who can open the floodgates for Academy talents to take over our first-team in the foreseeable future.