Arsenal to woo Kai Havertz with dream shirt

In the pursuit of Chelsea’s Kai Havertz, Arsenal could potentially offer the German midfielder his cherished shirt number if they manage to secure his signature this summer.

The Gunners have reportedly made an initial proposal to Chelsea for the 24-year-old attacking midfielder, as revealed by The Athletic’s David Ornstein.

Chelsea acquired Havertz from Bayer Leverkusen in 2020 for a substantial fee of £75 million.

Now, The Guardian reports that the Blues are seeking £70 million to part ways with the talented playmaker. Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations pose an additional challenge for Chelsea, with football finance expert Kieran Maguire suggesting that the club may need to offload players to comply with the regulations before June 30.

Although Havertz’s tenure at Chelsea has seen moments of brilliance, including his winning goal in the 2021 Champions League final, he has scored 19 goals over three Premier League seasons while primarily playing as a center forward.

However, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes he can unlock Havertz’s full potential and is willing to provide the German international with a special welcome gift.

Presently, Havertz dons the number 29 jersey for Chelsea, the same number he wore during his time at Bayer Leverkusen. Interestingly, the choice of number holds sentimental value for Havertz, as he explained in a 2021 interview with The Athletic.

He revealed that during his childhood, when he and his brother played FIFA or Pro Evolution Soccer, they would create their own virtual characters in the game. Havertz’s brother consistently selected the number 29 for his in-game avatar.

When Havertz made the leap to professional football and Bayer Leverkusen asked him to choose a shirt number, he inquired about the available options. Upon hearing that number 29 was unclaimed, he requested it in homage to his brother’s choice. “Sometimes it’s lucky for me, sometimes not. But I like the number, and now I think everybody knows me for it,” Havertz stated.

The number 29 jersey has had a varied history of success at Arsenal. Former player Ashley Cole wore it during his early years with the club, and current Arsenal star Granit Xhaka sported the number for two seasons.

Other players who have donned the number include Jermaine Pennant, Sebastian Larsson, Kim Kallstrom, Marouane Chamakh, and Matteo Guendouzi, according to Transfermarkt records.

As negotiations continue between Arsenal and Chelsea over Havertz’s potential transfer, the Gunners could offer him the chance to retain his beloved number 29 jersey.

If successful, this gesture would carry personal significance for Kai Havertz and potentially ignite a fresh chapter in his career as he seeks to fulfill his immense potential under the guidance of Mikel Arteta at Arsenal.