Why 'arrogant' Kai Havertz could be the ideal signing for Manchester United

Tom Doyle1 June 2020

Jadon Sancho and Erling Haaland have drawn plenty of transfer attention in recent months, but Kai Havertz is also attracting plenty of interest following the Bundesliga restart.

The Bayer Leverkusen star has been in sensational form since football resumed in Germany, scoring five goals in four games to make it 11 for the league campaign so far.

The 20-year-old has shown his adaptability by leading the line for Leverkusen of late, and his aerial prowess has not gone unnoticed either as the Germany international continues to look an all-rounder.

Standard Sport understands Manchester United have been scouting Havertz, while the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea have also been linked - and if he continues this form, plenty more clubs will join the queue with the young forward likely to be on the move if a suitable offer comes in.

Former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann is a big fan, and told Sky Sports: "He's just a very versatile player and if you watch him play he's technically very gifted.

Bongarts/Getty Images

"He's got that air of arrogance about him in a nice way, not in a cocky way, but a nice way."

Standard Sport understands that is exactly the profile of player Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is looking for, with United scouts told to find players who are ‘humble and arrogant with an X-factor.’

Dortmund duo Sancho and Haaland remain on Solskjaer's wishlist, but there will be plenty of negotiating to be done regarding the former's transfer fee, while the latter is also wanted by Real Madrid.

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And while Liverpool have been credited with interest in Havertz, the Reds' transfer plans already look complicated with doubts over whether they will activate Timo Werner's RB Leipzig release clause due to financial concerns.

United are one of the few cash-rich clubs in Europe at the moment, and despite their debts, they do have money to spend on transfers this summer - and it will be a struggle for other clubs to compete with the Red Devils in the market.

Regarding where Havertz could end up, Hamann says any team would be lucky to have him: "He said in an interview with us a couple of weeks ago that 'we'll find a solution in the summer'.

"Bayern Munich I think would be keen, but Bayern are saying they don't really know what's happening with transfer fees or what the market will do in the summer, so I think they'll be cautious.

"The top teams in Spain will be interested in him, I'm sure that a lot of Premier League clubs will be interested, I think he's a terrific player and not many better ones around at the moment."

He continued: "If you look at Man United, it's very clear that they need a new person, especially going forward.

"He'd improve pretty much every team. Liverpool is a bit different because of the way they set up, the way they play.

"But apart from Liverpool, he probably improves any team.

"Before the break, people were talking about £100m, whether this is a price any club in the summer is prepared to play I'm not too sure, we'll see but I think the likelihood is strong that he's going to leave Leverkusen and he picks up another challenge in the summer."

With United agreeing a six-month loan extension for Odion Ighalo until next January, that deal eases the pressure on Solskjaer to sign an out-and-out striker this summer - and with Solskjaer seeking reinforcements in both midfield and attack, Havertz could well be the ideal solution.

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