Chelsea hand Kai Havertz contract ultimatum over future amid Real Madrid interest

Chelsea have told Kai Havertz what he needs to do over his future at Stamford Bridge this summer amid growing interest from Real Madrid.

The 23-year-old is out of contract in 2025 after penning a five-year deal when he arrived at Chelsea three years ago in a club-record deal from Bayer Leverkusen.

Havertz has gone on to lift the Champions League – he scored the winning goal in Porto in 2021 against Man City – and Super Cup during his time in west London, as well as the Club World Cup, which he scored the penalty to beat Palmeiras in the final in Abu Dhabi in February 2022.

After being linked with Bayern Munich last summer, Havertz’s future is up for debate one year on and there is growing interest from Real Madrid, who are looking to replace Karim Benzema after his departure was announced.

Havertz has been claimed to be open to a move to the Bernabeu, according to reports in Germany and Spain, with his valuation expected to be around the £50 million mark.

Now, with two years left on his current deal, Havertz has been given an ultimatum by the Chelsea hierarchy over his future in the capital.

According to Adrian Kajumba of the Daily Mail, Chelsea have told the Germany international that ‘he must either extend his existing deal’ or ‘they will look to move him on’.

Chelsea’s new contract policy has seen the club’s ownership be ruthless over new deals, and they want Havertz to commit to a long-term deal.

If Havertz refuses to sign a contract extension in west London, Chelsea ‘will look to do business with potential suitors’, with Real Madrid set to test their resolve.

Chelsea are overseeing a squad overhaul this summer as Mauricio Pochettino, the club’s new head coach, trims the bloated squad ahead of the 2023/24 season.

The 51-year-old is reported to be ‘ready to move on players deemed surplus to requirements’.

Talk over who will stay and go has already begun ahead of the summer transfer window opening on June 14. Chelsea’s planning is well underway and a decision over Havertz’s future is likely to come in the coming weeks.