Frank Lampard insists Chelsea have not tabled a bid for Kai Havertz yet but admitted he rates the Bayer Leverkusen star highly.
Speculation this week has linked the Blues with an offer for the Germany international.
The 21-year-old has thrived this season in the Bundesliga, operating recently as a striker in the absence of the injured Kevin Volland, though he is more comfortable in a deeper role.
And after 16 goals and nine assists in all competitions this term, interest has grown around Europe, with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich also thought to be monitoring the situation.
With just two years remaining on his contract, there is even more pressure on Leverkusen to sell this summer.
Havertz’s value will likely peak this summer unless he pens a new deal, and with Leverkusen now unlikely to qualify for next season’s Champions League – with a two-point deficit to Borussia Monchengladbach in fourth with one game remaining in the Bundesliga – a big-money move looks possible in the weeks ahead.
“He’s obviously a top player but we’re not going to comment on other players at other teams,” Lampard said ahead of Chelsea’s match against Manchester City on Thursday. “[But] no bids have gone in.”
Lampard will be able to call upon Willian and Pedro though, not only against City, but against West Ham on 1 July and beyond after the pair extended their contracts until the end of the current campaign.
“I am pleased and the negotiations were relatively easy,” Lampard added.
“Both sides wanted the same thing. Both players wanted to finish the season with us.”
