Kai Havertz is a £90m goal machine linked with Liverpool, Arsenal and Man City who could cost ‘more than €100m’

Kai Havertz has been touted as one of the brightest young talents in European football and it’s not hard to see why.

And with the Bundesliga returning, fans will get a reminder of just how good he is.

The goalscoring attacking midfielder is already a star at Bayer Leverkusen despite being just 20 years old.

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Havertz is already in his fourth season in the first team and his reputation continues to grow as he gets older.

The Bundesliga club nurtured the Germany international through their academy to the senior squad and he was their youngest ever debutant.

But it looks increasingly likely that he may leave in the summer and marvelbet369.com looks at why the starlet is so highly-rated.

What’s the gossip?

Leverkusen face a fight to keep the 20-year-old in the summer with a number of clubs already linked with him.

The club’s sporting director Rudi Voller previously admitted it could be difficult to keep hold of him.

He said: “I’m glad that we still held (on to Havertz) this year.

“We’ll see how it looks in summer. He has a contract until 2022 - these are, of course, the classic facts.

“There was already interest in the summer, but we told him that it would be good for him to stay with us for another year.

“And that was the right decision.”

Leverkusen will be reluctant to sell and the uncertainty over the transfer window, due to the coronavirus pandemic, will be another obstacle to overcome.

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Liverpool have previously been linked with the youngster but the price tag could put them off and fellow Bundesliga talent Timo Werner could be their preference.

Manchester United and Man City have both previously expressed an interest as well as Premier League rivals Arsenal.

Former Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Wolfgang Holzhauser believes he would be an ideal player for the Gunners.

Bayern Munich has also shown an interest in the attacking midfielder but again the transfer fee could prove problematic.

Career so far?

Havertz joined the Leverkusen academy as an 11-year-old and worked his way up to the senior side.

He became the club’s youngest ever Bundesliga debutant when he came on as a second-half substitute against Werder Bremen aged 17 years and 126 days.

That was in 2016 and has since racked up 139 total appearances with 38 goals.

Last season, he scored 17 league goals in 34 games and firmly put himself on the radar of clubs around Europe.

He has also broken into the Germany national team and so far made seven appearances since his debut in 2018.

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How much is he likely to cost?

Bayer Leverkusen manager Peter Bosz seemed resigned to losing the star but admitted it would take a hefty bid to lure him away.

Bosz told : “Kai is 20 years old, but this is already his fourth season in the Bundesliga.

“That says a lot. Everyone in Germany sees him as a child prodigy. He is from Aachen, has been here since he was eight. Nice boy to work with. Intelligent. He also plays piano.

“We sold his buddy, Julian Brandt, to Borussia Dortmund last summer. Havertz suddenly became even more of an eye-catcher.

“A lot came to him before the winter break. We lost the derby at Cologne and three days later also at home to Hertha Berlin. Suddenly the entire stadium whistled him off.

“He was devastated by that. ‘Why do people hate me?’ Then he’s just another 20-year-old and you explain: ‘They don’t hate you, but this is how it goes’.

“During the winter break, we showed him images that he did not reach the box enough. Now he does that more often. His share of goals and assists has skyrocketed.

“He can’t be held on to next summer. That will be a transfer of €100m (£90m).

“What am I saying? More than €100m.”

So it’s fair to say that Havertz will not come cheap!

What is being said about him?

Germany manager Joachim Low admitted Havertz was immediately comfortable making the step up to international football.

He said: “To play such a season at 19 and score 17 goals is exceptional.

“With Kai Havertz I asked myself after the first time he trained with us whether he could’ve already been with us for a year or two.

“It seemed as if he’d always played with the others. I’ve seen that very, very rarely with a player before.”

Juventus manager Maurizio Sarri, who Bayer Leverkusen faced in the Champions League this season, labelled Havertz as the ‘complete player’.

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He said: “He is a player who combines excellent physical qualities with great technical skills.

“At the moment they are using him mainly as an attacking midfielder behind the central forward or as a winger. I think he is a complete player that could also play as a midfielder.

“He is a player born in 1999… with those qualities and with that personality it makes you think it is certain he will become one of the most important players in Europe.”

How will he fit in if he leaves Bayer Leverkusen?

Arsenal

Havertz could slot perfectly into Mesut Ozil’s role behind the striker should Mikel Arteta want to axe him in the summer.

Arteta looks set to make several changes in player personnel at the end of the season and the Germany playmaker could be a strong addition.

It could all depend on finances and whether Arsenal secure European football next season, though, as they are currently down in ninth place.

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Manchester United

United already added a similar player in Bruno Fernandes in January and looks unlikely they would sign Havertz when there are more pressing needs.

The pair together would be quite a force in the Red Devils’ midfield supporter the attackers.

If they were to sign the 20-year-old then they may need to sell Paul Pogba to fund the deal and also strengthen other areas of the pitch.

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Man City

Leroy Sane has been linked with a move to Bayern Munich and David Silva is leaving City at the end of the season, so there could certainly be room for a player like Havertz.

All the indications suggest he could be a player that would thrive under Pep Guardiola and could mould easily into their style of play.

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