Barcelona Prepared to 'Offer Three Players' to Land Bayer Leverkusen's Kai Havertz This Summer
By Max Cooper
Barcelona have identified three players that they are willing to offer in exchange for Bayer Leverkusen star Kai Havertz, as the Catalan giants aim to add some youth and quality to their current midfield options.
Havertz has shone since bursting onto the Bundesliga scene, and he has attracted the attention of a host of top European clubs - including Premier League giants Liverpool, who are firm admirers of the 20-year-old.
But the Reds are not the only club interested in signing the attacking midfielder. Spanish champions Barcelona are rumoured to be tracking Havertz's situation, and according to Sport1, La Blaugrana are willing to sweeten the deal with a star of their own heading in the opposite direction.
Emerson Leite, Carles Alena and Marc Cucurella are the three Barça players who are believed to be on offer to Bayer, as well as a substantial sum of cash. The Spanish side is aware that Havertz is likely to be a costly investment, and the opportunity to get rid of one of their own players in return would significantly reduce the fees involved in the deal.
Barça are also desperate to offload a number of their own stars this summer in order to balance the books, and trim their bloated and expensive squad. For that reason alone, shipping out one of the trio as part of the transfer would be an appetising option in Catalonia.
As for Havertz, he's been in sensational form for the couple of years - scoring 17 Bundesliga goals for Die Werkself last season, producing some scintillating performances. His numbers haven't been so good during 2019/20, but he's still been influential en route to netting six times.
And Barcelona, along with fellow suitors Liverpool, will be buoyed by the news that Havertz is willing to move abroad in the near future, after he told Bild that he's ready to take 'the next step' in his career.
"I'm ready to take a big step, and I like challenges. For me, this also includes abroad," he said. "Leverkusen are a great club, I feel good. I have always said that. But, of course, I want to take the next step in my career at some point. That's my ambition."