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It has been speculated that Bayern Munich has major interest in Bayer Leverkusen starlet and Germany international Kai Havertz. The timing of when Die Roten would make a move has been the lingering issue in this scenario.
A report from SportBild’s Christian Falk, however, now gives a hint on what Bayern’s plan may be. Falk indicated that the Bavarians will make a run at procuring Havertz for the summer of 2020. The 19-year-old currently has a contract with Die Werkself through June 2022 and Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Völler would appear to be a major roadblock in anyone acquiring Havertz before his team is ready to sell for an acceptable fee.
Exclusive: @FCBayern wants Kai Havertz @bayer04fussball for Summer 2020. the club informed already his agents @SPORTBILD
— Christian Falk (@cfbayern) March 27, 2019
From the SportBild report:
In 2020, the record champions’ wish is for the national player of Bayer Leverkusen to transfer to Munich. The biggest hurdle is the transfer fee. Bayern should be ready to make an offer over €75 million as a transfer fee. But is this sum high enough? At Bayer Leverkusen, the front office is has a different opinion!
According to SportBild’s information, (Leverkusen) will not let its (player) go for a transfer fee under €100 million. The members of the shareholders’ committee of Bayer 04, which consists of current and former managers of the Bayer Group, are in agreement on this point.
The report follows the rumor leaked on March 18th by kicker and Sport1, detailing how Havertz was not on the table for Bayern this summer.
Clearly, Völler and Leverkusen hold all the cards in this scenario. How motivated Völler will be to sell Havertz before he enters his lame-duck season of 2021/2022 is a legitimate question. The precocious talent’s value will likely only continue to rise and his popularity among the traditional European powers will only grow.
One trickle-down effect of this plan for Bayern could be what the club does with Colombia international James Rodriguez. If Bayern truly wants to acquire Havertz in 2020, would they pass on purchasing James at the end of his loan agreement in June? That appears to be at least one option that is on the table.