Quick Hit: Why Bayern Munich -- and Kai Havertz -- can wait on a transfer

Chuck Smith
Mar 26, 2020
3 min read

Rumors out of Germany indicate that Bayer Leverkusen ace Kai Havertz might not want to take the transfer plunge in Bavaria despite Hansi Flick's desire to bring the 20-year-old Germany international into the fold for next season.

Allegedly citing too much of a "dog-eat-dog" environment at Bayern Munich, Havertz might be looking to play the next phase of his career elsewhere. Unfortunately for Havertz, COVID-19 might make that move a little bit difficult --- especially considering the rumored €100M+ price tag that Leverkusen wants to apply on the midfield sensation.

While Flick might be keen on Havertz, allowing the player to spend more time with Bayer Leverkusen -- or abroad -- might not be the worst thing in the world and here's why:

1. Havertz is RIGHT! A move to Bayern Munich likely wouldn't guarantee playing time and might actually delay his development.

Havertz turns 21 in June and would slot into a competition with Thomas Muller, who has done the "Little Mac" over the past three seasons in dispatching each challenger that has stepped in his way.

Aside of Muller, Bayern could be in the running for both Leroy Sane and Timo Werner, which could create a surplus at wing and striker --- which, again, could push players like Serge Gnabry or potentially Werner and/or Sane into a more central role as second striker/attacking midfielder. This does not even include how other midfielders like Leon Goretzka, Thiago Alcanara, Michael Cuisance, Joshua Kimmich, and Corentin Tolisso could impact Havertz --- or how a potential move up to wing for Alphonso Davies could potentially add more of a cluster across the 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 positions.

I get it...Havertz's alleged idea of "dog-eat-dog" doesn't necessarily translate to having to deal with competition, but more with how players are almost pitted against each other. At 21 (in June), will Havertz need to put his playing time at risk already? I think not.

I'm also of the belief that Havertz could float outside to wing, but again, that does not appear to be a place where Bayern will need depth any time soon given the current roster and some of the players rumored to be on the club's radar.

2. Why rush it?

The key number with Havertz is his age. He's so young that there is no concrete reason to force his way into Bayern Munch now. Muller is turning 31 and is far more likely to be ready to cede position in two-to-three years.

Simply put, Bayern's ideal time to strike on Havertz might not be right now, but for the 2022-2023 season. At that point, Havertz will be much more of a finished product and likely ready to assert himself as a focal point of Bayern Munich's next generation at that point.

3. Why drop when the loot for another midfielder when the central spots are already jammed and there might be a needs elsewhere on the pitch?

Realistically, Bayern will likely need to backfill the midfield with some depth given how many players could bolt, but the Bavarians could also be looking at a need within the central defense. Niklas Sule is coming off of a terrible knee injury and it would be naive to think that he'll be ready to go --- and be 100% --- at the start of next season. In addition, Lucas Hernandez has proven to be injury prone and inconsistent, while David Alaba and Jerome Boateng are both heavily involved in transfer rumors.

With Benjamin Pavard looking more and more like Bayern's right-back of the future, the club might need to make a high-priced addition to the center-back position to stabilize its defensive unit for next season.

Summary

I think Havertz is a tremendous and versatile talent (despite his up-and-down performance at times this season), but he is still at a place in his career where he can wait to make the move to Bavaria. Given the financial climate, it is extremely hard to think that Leverkusen will get anywhere near 100M for Havertz in the next transfer window, which could make this whole discussion obsolete if Die Werkself is unwilling to budge off of that price tag.

In a weird way, Havertz spending at least another year with Leverkusen might actually be the best possible scenario for Bayern Munich, Kai Havertz, and Bayer Leverkusen alike. That extra year might clear things up internally at Bayern, might give Havertz another year to bolster his resume, and could give Leverkusen time to let the transfer market right itself.