Arsenal lose Gundogan gains Havertz
The fee for Havertz, who scored nine goals in 47 games for the Blues last season, could rise with add-ons.
Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan has joined Barcelona on a free transfer after turning down Arsenal approaches but the North London club succeed in a deal with Chelsea worth around £65m for Germany international forward Kai Havertz.
It is understood the clubs have made an agreement in principle that will allow the player to discuss personal terms and have a medical.
The fee for Havertz, who scored nine goals in 47 games for the Blues last season, could rise with add-ons.
Havertz, 24, joined Chelsea from Bayer Leverkusen in 2020 for a deal worth about £71m.
He also scored the winning goal for Chelsea in the 2021 Champions League final against Manchester City.
Havertz is set to move across London as Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen his Arsenal team following qualification for the Champions League.
Arsenal are also chasing England midfielder Declan Rice, the West Ham captain, but a second bid for the 24-year-old - worth up to £90m - was rejected on Tuesday.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are seeking to reduce their squad size and have also agreed a £30m deal with Manchester City for Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic, 29.
Another midfielder, France international N'Golo Kante, 32, has agreed to sign for Saudi Arabian champions Al-Ittihad when his contract expires at the end of June.
The new ownership at Chelsea want to avoid letting players enter the final two years of their deals and Havertz, whose contract runs out in 2025, has not agreed an extension at the club.
Meanwhile, Gundogan will leave City after captaining the English club to the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League last season, ending a successful seven-year stint in England where he won 14 trophies, including five league titles.
Gundogan was Pep Guardiola's first recruit when he took over at City in 2016 despite the German being sidelined with a knee injury when he was signed from Borussia Dortmund.
He proved to be the man for the big occasion at City, especially over the last two seasons when he scored crucial goals that helped City seal several trophies.
His experience will be invaluable to Barca coach Xavi after the Spanish side's long-serving and trusted midfield general Sergio Busquets left the club at the end of the season after 18 years with the Catalan outfit.
Barcelona won the LaLiga title last season but failed to get out of the group stage in the Champions League while they were knocked out in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey.
