Premier League Rumors: Red Devils Focus On Van De Beek, Blues Zero In On Havertz

Chelsea FC may have just gotten rid of a major hurdle in the pursuit of Kai Havertz after reports surfaced that Manchester United opted to head in a different direction. As most know, the Blues already initiated talks with Bayern Leverkusen last week to acquire the 21-year-old football player.

According to the Daily Star, United has backed off from its pursuit of the German midfielder. Instead, the Red Devils have focused on getting Donny van de Beek of Ajax, someone who costs a whole lot cheaper. Havertz carries a hefty $94.2 million price tag, while Ajax is asking $55 million for van de Beek.

Side-by-side, Havertz and van de Beek barely have a significant difference in terms of performance this season. Both have the same number of assists (seven), with van de Beek scoring just one more goal ahead of Havertz (15-14).

The change in plans should be a big boost to Frank Lampard's pursuit of Havertz. Before the interest in Havertz, the Blues had already gotten a commitment from another German star, Timo Werner. However, the deal has yet to be finalized.

It was previously reported that former Liverpool star Dietmar Hamann said that Havertz would be better off choosing Chelsea over United. He feels that the German football player would be a better fit for the Blues, a team currently retooling with the influx of young booters. Lampard has been busy getting in key pieces, and Havertz is considered a major player in Chelsea's drive for improvement.

"For the first time in a long time, you have a team with which the fans can really identify. If a Timo Werner or possibly a Kai Havertz were to be added, it would be an incredibly exciting and interesting story. If I think about where I see the clubs now and in two or three years, the decision for Chelsea would be a relatively easy one for me as a player," Hamann said in an interview with Sky Sports.

Chelsea has several other targets in mind, including Ben Chilwell. Ironically, they are also locked in a race with United for the services of the 23-year-old left-back.

The Blues feel that qualifying for the Champions League could raise interest in their targets, showing that they are rebuilding in the right direction. However, Chilwell will not come cheap. Leicester City is seeking $75 million for the English football player.