Transfer Centre

Kai Havertz urged by Dietmar Hamann to snub Manchester United for Chelsea

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 13 June 2020

Havertz urged by Hamann to snub Man Utd for Chelsea

Kai Havertz is reportedly open to joining Manchester United, but Dietmar Hamann has warned the Bayer Leverkusen forward off a move to Old Trafford.

Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann has urged Bayer Leverkusen star Kai Havertz to choose Chelsea over Manchester United if given the choice.

Germany international Havertz is rumoured to be a target for both Premier League heavyweights this summer, as well as Leverkusen's domestic rivals Bayern Munich.

The 21-year-old has been directly involved in 16 Bundesliga goals this term, leading to a rumoured £75m price tag being placed on his head.

Havertz is said to have indicated that he would be open to joining United, but Hamann - who spent 11 seasons in the Premier League - believes that Chelsea would be the wiser choice if he is to succeed in English football.

"United has lost its appeal in recent years," he told Sky Sports Deutschland. "They have been the measure of things for many years, they are still the largest club in England, but they have major internal problems. If there was a player on the market in the past, Manchester United was the first point of contact for years.

"I believe that is no longer the case today. When a player like Kai Havertz changes clubs and signs somewhere for five years, the long-term perspective is more important than participating in the Champions League next season.

"The player may have to make the decision in the next few weeks and cannot wait until the season in England, which runs until the end of July or beginning of August, is over. Perspective is important for a player, but Manchester has been in a vacuum for years.

"On the other hand, if I look at Chelsea, they have a coach with Frank Lampard who did a great job for the club as a player - and I have the feeling that the Blues are growing again. For the first time in a long time, you have a team with which the fans can really identify."

Chelsea are also believed to be on the verge of completing a £53m deal for Havertz's compatriot Timo Werner, who has starred for RB Leipzig this season.