He is a good player but he doesn't score consistently enough for me. He floats in and out of games. Even that Calvin Lewin fella looks a more reliable goalscorer.
Transfer rumours
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He is a good player but he doesn't score consistently enough for me. He floats in and out of games. Even that Calvin Lewin fella looks a more reliable goalscorer.
Or Mbappe? The reference to "family" suggests a young player. Is either of them known to be particularly/not particularly close to family?
Found an interesting article on Kai Havertz by Bavarian Football Works.
Three reasons why Bayern Munich should not sign Kai Havertz this summer
Between a marked decline in performance, a contract due to expire in a couple of years, and a lack of true competitors for his signature, there are plenty of reasons why Bayern should hold off on signing Germany’s golden boy.
As far as Bayern Munich fans are concerned, Kai Havertz is the holy grail of football transfers at the moment. There is no other player more coveted by the fanbase, arguably not even Leroy Sane. The Bayer Leverkusen youngster set the league alight last season and has been linked with every top club in Europe — Liverpool, Barcelona, Real Madrid, you name it. Only Leverkusen’s absurd asking price has kept these teams at bay.
Now, however, the situation has changed somewhat. After bursting onto the scene in 2018/19, Havertz has noticeably slowed down in the current year, falling far short of the performances needed to justify his alleged 130m euro price tag. Despite this, most fans and pundits still think of him as the next big German talent, and are urging Bayern to snap him up next summer at Leverkusen’s asking price.
Here’s why that shouldn’t be the case:
A one-season wonder?
A lot has been made of Kai Havertz’s disappointing season so far, and it’s true — he’s suffered an immense performance downturn. His goals per 90 mins is down by almost half, and while his xGChain numbers are good, his buildup numbers have suffered. Kai’s insane talent doesn’t look as insane anymore, especially compared with other up-and-coming players in the Bundesliga like Gladbach’s Marcus Thuram and Schalke’s Breel Embolo.
This would be less worrying if it wasn’t an established pattern with Leverkusen. A few years ago, Leon Bailey burst onto the scene with 12 goals and 6 assists in his first proper season in the Bundesliga. The Jamaican winger was quickly seen as a candidate to replace Arjen Robben or Franck Ribery at Bayern. However, in the year immediately following his emergence, his performances fell off a cliff and have never recovered.
To this day he is a bit-part player for Leverkusen, and big clubs who were once smitten with him have turned their attention elsewhere.
One of the reasons given for Havertz’s decline in form is the departure of Julian Brandt to Borussia Dortmund. It’s a valid reason, but it does not hold water as an argument for why Bayern should buy Havertz. There is no Julian Brandt at Bayern Munich — only Philippe Coutinho resembles Brandt in terms of playing style, and the Brazilian will likely be gone by next season.
The most prudent thing for Bayern to do now would be to adopt a wait-and-see approach. Can Havertz work his way through his current slump and rediscover world-class form? Consistency should be the target here. Spending €130m on a player who has had one good season at the top level is foolhardy, especially when Bayern aren’t lacking quality at Havertz’s position.
An expiring contract
Another reason why waiting makes sense is the duration of Havertz’s contract. It expires in the summer of 2022. If Bayern were to make an approach this summer, Leverkusen could stick to their guns and demand an exorbitant price, just like Manchester City did when the Bavarians opted to approach Leroy Sane.
By waiting another year, Havertz enters the last year of his contract, and Leverkusen lose any negotiating power they had previously. Even if Kai rediscovers his form, his price will be much cheaper than the €130m that’s being quoted now, because Bayer would risk losing him for free the following year.
It just makes financial sense for Bayern Munich to wait. As for other suitors, they’re unlikely to make much of a difference. The number of clubs that can afford Havertz, are a suitable destination for a talent like him, and have a pressing need to sign him — is very small, basically nonexistent.
Liverpool don’t use an attacking midfielder. Manchester City have Kevin De Bruyne locked down. Barcelona have Leo Messi. PSG have Neymar. Real Madrid also don’t use attacking midfielders (otherwise James Rodriguez would get some game time).
With all that taken into consideration, choosing not to splash the cash on Havertz this summer is the best choice. There are more pressing matters the money can be spent on, such as a new center-back and possibly a new defensive midfielder — plus new contracts for key players such as Thiago Alcantara, David Alaba, Manuel Neuer, and Thomas Müller.
Thomas Müller’s resurgent form
Speaking of Thomas Müller, his form is a major reason why Kai Havertz is not a pressing need for Bayern Munich at the moment. Recall the Leroy Sane saga for a second — the reason why Bayern went all-in on him was because the club was desperate for a new winger following the departures of Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery.
Muller meanwhile is just thirty years old and shows no signs of slowing down. Despite limited playing time under Niko Kovac (including a two-month stretch without starting a single game), the Bavarian native has enjoyed a second spring under Hansi Flick, registering 5 goals and 8 assists in just 11 games in all competitions. That’s better than Havertz’s tally of 5 goals and 2 assists for the entire season (23 games), despite the fact that the youngster has played significantly more minutes than Müller.
With Müller in such incredible form and very seldom injured, there is simply no pressing need for Bayern to go all-in for Havertz in the summer of 2020.
It appears that the people in charge of Bayern Munich are well aware of these arguments. According to TZ reporter Manuel Bonke, who has proven himself as a reliable source of insider info, it’s unlikely that Kai Havertz will transfer to Bayern in the summer.
This is a very plausible assessment, given all the reasons that have been outlined. Sane was always going to be the club’s top priority in the summer, and committing €80m or more to him AND another €100m or so to Havertz would cripple Bayern’s ability to make more important reinforcements in other areas. Therefore, the most prudent course of action would be to wait and see how things play out. Havertz may well join Bayern Munich someday, but the time has not yet come.
Three reasons why Bayern Munich should not sign Kai Havertz this summer
Between a marked decline in performance, a contract due to expire in a couple of years, and a lack of true competitors for his signature, there are plenty of reasons why Bayern should hold off on signing Germany’s golden boy.
As far as Bayern Munich fans are concerned, Kai Havertz is the holy grail of football transfers at the moment. There is no other player more coveted by the fanbase, arguably not even Leroy Sane. The Bayer Leverkusen youngster set the league alight last season and has been linked with every top club in Europe — Liverpool, Barcelona, Real Madrid, you name it. Only Leverkusen’s absurd asking price has kept these teams at bay.
Now, however, the situation has changed somewhat. After bursting onto the scene in 2018/19, Havertz has noticeably slowed down in the current year, falling far short of the performances needed to justify his alleged 130m euro price tag. Despite this, most fans and pundits still think of him as the next big German talent, and are urging Bayern to snap him up next summer at Leverkusen’s asking price.
Here’s why that shouldn’t be the case:
A one-season wonder?
A lot has been made of Kai Havertz’s disappointing season so far, and it’s true — he’s suffered an immense performance downturn. His goals per 90 mins is down by almost half, and while his xGChain numbers are good, his buildup numbers have suffered. Kai’s insane talent doesn’t look as insane anymore, especially compared with other up-and-coming players in the Bundesliga like Gladbach’s Marcus Thuram and Schalke’s Breel Embolo.
This would be less worrying if it wasn’t an established pattern with Leverkusen. A few years ago, Leon Bailey burst onto the scene with 12 goals and 6 assists in his first proper season in the Bundesliga. The Jamaican winger was quickly seen as a candidate to replace Arjen Robben or Franck Ribery at Bayern. However, in the year immediately following his emergence, his performances fell off a cliff and have never recovered.
To this day he is a bit-part player for Leverkusen, and big clubs who were once smitten with him have turned their attention elsewhere.
One of the reasons given for Havertz’s decline in form is the departure of Julian Brandt to Borussia Dortmund. It’s a valid reason, but it does not hold water as an argument for why Bayern should buy Havertz. There is no Julian Brandt at Bayern Munich — only Philippe Coutinho resembles Brandt in terms of playing style, and the Brazilian will likely be gone by next season.
The most prudent thing for Bayern to do now would be to adopt a wait-and-see approach. Can Havertz work his way through his current slump and rediscover world-class form? Consistency should be the target here. Spending €130m on a player who has had one good season at the top level is foolhardy, especially when Bayern aren’t lacking quality at Havertz’s position.
An expiring contract
Another reason why waiting makes sense is the duration of Havertz’s contract. It expires in the summer of 2022. If Bayern were to make an approach this summer, Leverkusen could stick to their guns and demand an exorbitant price, just like Manchester City did when the Bavarians opted to approach Leroy Sane.
By waiting another year, Havertz enters the last year of his contract, and Leverkusen lose any negotiating power they had previously. Even if Kai rediscovers his form, his price will be much cheaper than the €130m that’s being quoted now, because Bayer would risk losing him for free the following year.
It just makes financial sense for Bayern Munich to wait. As for other suitors, they’re unlikely to make much of a difference. The number of clubs that can afford Havertz, are a suitable destination for a talent like him, and have a pressing need to sign him — is very small, basically nonexistent.
Liverpool don’t use an attacking midfielder. Manchester City have Kevin De Bruyne locked down. Barcelona have Leo Messi. PSG have Neymar. Real Madrid also don’t use attacking midfielders (otherwise James Rodriguez would get some game time).
With all that taken into consideration, choosing not to splash the cash on Havertz this summer is the best choice. There are more pressing matters the money can be spent on, such as a new center-back and possibly a new defensive midfielder — plus new contracts for key players such as Thiago Alcantara, David Alaba, Manuel Neuer, and Thomas Müller.
Thomas Müller’s resurgent form
Speaking of Thomas Müller, his form is a major reason why Kai Havertz is not a pressing need for Bayern Munich at the moment. Recall the Leroy Sane saga for a second — the reason why Bayern went all-in on him was because the club was desperate for a new winger following the departures of Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery.
Muller meanwhile is just thirty years old and shows no signs of slowing down. Despite limited playing time under Niko Kovac (including a two-month stretch without starting a single game), the Bavarian native has enjoyed a second spring under Hansi Flick, registering 5 goals and 8 assists in just 11 games in all competitions. That’s better than Havertz’s tally of 5 goals and 2 assists for the entire season (23 games), despite the fact that the youngster has played significantly more minutes than Müller.
With Müller in such incredible form and very seldom injured, there is simply no pressing need for Bayern to go all-in for Havertz in the summer of 2020.
It appears that the people in charge of Bayern Munich are well aware of these arguments. According to TZ reporter Manuel Bonke, who has proven himself as a reliable source of insider info, it’s unlikely that Kai Havertz will transfer to Bayern in the summer.
This is a very plausible assessment, given all the reasons that have been outlined. Sane was always going to be the club’s top priority in the summer, and committing €80m or more to him AND another €100m or so to Havertz would cripple Bayern’s ability to make more important reinforcements in other areas. Therefore, the most prudent course of action would be to wait and see how things play out. Havertz may well join Bayern Munich someday, but the time has not yet come.
Doesn't seem like a well-researched or thought-out article. I think the drop-off in goals output has more to do with tactical reasons (playing deeper as more of a playmaker than a finisher in the absence of Brandt) – because when he did get into shooting positions this season his finishing was as good as ever. Looks like Peter Bosz tried to accommodate 2 poacher-type strikers in the team in Alario and Volland by sticking Volland on the wing for most of the season – so Havertz was needed to string moves together deeper and the whole thing frankly didn't work too well. In recent games Bosz reverted to Volland alone up front which had a positive effect on both the results and Havertz's offensive output (2 goals and 1 assist in last 3 games since the tactical change was made).
Also, "Liverpool don't use an attacking midfielder," WTF? We use lots of them, but they all need to defend – which is something Havertz can do as well.
Also, "Liverpool don't use an attacking midfielder," WTF? We use lots of them, but they all need to defend – which is something Havertz can do as well.
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I think what was meant by that sentence was followed by names given at other clubs. We don’t have any attacking geniuses playing in midfield such as DeBryne or a Silva. But we could do. And I wish we did. It would give us so much more.
Sancho replacement obviously!
And a massive cut in wages, too. Although, to be fair, a significant proportion of his wages at Juventus would have been the signing-on fee.
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Indeed. That could be very big news for them.
Dont imagine we have considered anyone like him unless discussions concerning one of Mo/Mane leaving the club in the summer are happening
Great signing for them though, they've got serious options with Moura, Lamela, Lo Celso, Son , Dele, Kane and whoever else
Christian Falk the head football journo at Bild is saying Leverkusen are expecting a bid for Kai Havertz from LFC
I know approximately nothing of Havertz so no idea if he's any good , a mooted price tag of circa £100m so he better fucking be though
I'm not sure Bild is the most respectable source (?) and also don't think we spend that sort of cash unless there's an astronomical fee inbound for one of our forwards this summer , even then can't see it happening , actually
I know approximately nothing of Havertz so no idea if he's any good , a mooted price tag of circa £100m so he better fucking be though
I'm not sure Bild is the most respectable source (?) and also don't think we spend that sort of cash unless there's an astronomical fee inbound for one of our forwards this summer , even then can't see it happening , actually
Here's the times own tweet about it, can't see it myself, would be massive if true though. No chance Levy is paying even half his wages though.
I’m expecting to win the lottery tonight. It doesn’t mean it is happening.
Matt Lawton (presumably the author without checking) has just said spurs are saying this won't happen in this window anyways
The main thing I took away from that article is that Havertz should be cheaper now.
It does feel like the general consensus is that he's struggled this season (whatever the reason) and you now have people like in that article questioning him.
Can Leverkusen still realistically expect 100M plus?
Would they take something like 80M plus performance related add-ons I wonder.
Yup, also if the last lad that was hot shit reverted and they never cashed in then maybe they'll fear it happening again and be more willing to haggle.
£50m for Josh King (28) seems like rather a lot of money. They should have bought Ings, although we probably wouldn't have let that happen.
Appaz they enquired about him as well, but Soton said no sale.
You aren't though, really.
And setting aside the fact that I'm crediting you with a decent grasp of probability, surely you can see the difference between expectation as concerns the lottery (which you have no control over), and this.
One makes someone an optimist, the other makes someone an idiot.
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