Bayer Leverkusen director Rudi Voller insists Chelsea target Kai Havertz will complete the clubs Europa League campaign before any potential transfer.
The Bundesliga side look set to make it to the quarter-finals as they hold a 3-1 first leg lead over Rangers in the round-of-16.
Havertz is vital to Bayer Leverkusen’s Europa League hopes
The second leg clash takes place next Thursday with the final scheduled for August 21, which could delay Havertzs possible big-money move to Stamford Bridge.
It is set in stone,” Voller said when quizzed over the 21-year-old midfielder’s involvement in this seasons Europa League. “There is no new stance.
Voller is adamant the coronavirus pandemic will not change Leverkusens £90million (100m) asking price.
He added: “There will be no corona bonus. No matter who the player is, this is a special transfer window.”
Havertz, who scored 12 Bundesliga goals last term, is reportedly keen to join Chelsea this summer with the club already bringing in Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech.
Bayer Leverkusen finished fifth in the Bundesliga and failed to qualify for next seasons Champions League, which could make it even more difficult for the Germans to keep hold of their star man.
Lampard is believed to be a big fan of Havertz
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Meanwhile, Chelsea managed to qualify for Europes elite competition thanks to a 2-0 win over Wolves last weekend.
Asked if reaching the Champions League will make recruitment easier, Blues boss Frank Lampard said: “In brutal honesty I would say yes.
Not to say exactly where that will go, because that’s not a conversation today off the back of the game straight away.
“We know that the economics of the Champions League are big, we know that. We know the prestige, top players want to play in the Champions League.
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“The top players that are here already, even the young players, they want to play in the Champions League.
“To get too far ahead of ourselves and to be concerned for what it might mean from the outside is not a question for today, it’s a question for the players that have produced today.
“That can improve anyway, we can all improve.