Bayer Leverkusen chief reiterates Kai Havertz asking price

Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voller has denied suggestions that Chelsea are closing in on a deal for Germany international Kai Havertz.

The 21-year-old has been strongly linked with a move to Stamford Bridge over the last few months, and a recent report claimed that the Blues were nearing an agreement with all parties.

However, Leverkusen chief Voller has reiterated that the German giants will not be dropping their valuation - thought to be in the region of £90m - insisting that the coronavirus outbreak does not mean that there will be a summer discount.

"There is nothing new in this regard, and we are still very relaxed about it. 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," Voller told Sportbuzzer.

"In times of corona, it may actually be that the transfer fees have decreased for many players. But corona or no 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."

Havertz was in impressive form for Leverkusen during the 2019-20 campaign, scoring 18 times and contributing nine assists in 45 appearances in all competitions.

The German - also previously linked with Manchester United, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich - has entered the final two years of his contract at BayArena.