Ben Guest
Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voller has insisted that there will be ‘no corona discount’ for Kai Havertz, the playmaker having strongly been linked with a move to Chelsea.
Havertz netted 12 goals and provided six assists in 30 Bundesliga outings last season, the elegant midfielder’s performances having attracted the admiring glances of a number of Europe’s top sides.
However, with football’s finances having been hit by the ongoing pandemic, Chelsea have emerged as firm favourites for his signature, their budget boosted by their inability to spend last summer due to their transfer ban, as well as the £90m sale of Eden Hazard to Real Madrid.
Reports recently have suggested that the Blues move for Havertz has edged closer this week, though former Germany forward Voller has stressed that there is ‘nothing new’ to report while reiterating his desire for the 21-year-old to remain at the BayArena.
“There is nothing new in this regard, and we are still very relaxed about it,” Voller told German publication Sport Buzzer.
Ziyech ✅
Werner ✅
Havertz ?
Chilwell ?
Thiago Silva❓Chelsea are going for it ? https://t.co/VFE7qXP08X
— Goal (@goal) August 21, 2020
“Of course, we would be very happy if he stayed for another year. It is clear that the departure of such a player, despite the high transfer fee, always means a loss – see Leipzig and (Timo) Werner.”
Leverkusen are believed to be holding out for a €100m fee from Chelsea, and while the economic downturn is expected to hit the spending ability of almost every club in the world, Voller was adamant that there would be no discount for a player he considers to be ‘world-class’.
“In times of corona, it may actually be that the transfer fees have decreased for many players,” he said.
“But corona or corona – this is not the case with exceptional players like Havertz or Jadon Sancho. There is no corona discount for them.
“What makes Kai Havertz so interesting is the fact that he embodies world-class in four or five positions.”
Read – Chelsea closing in on agreement for England left-back Chilwell
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