Bayer Leverkusen still hope to keep in-demand Havertz for next season

Bayer Leverkusen hope to keep Kai Havertz for next season and are not prepared to let him leave for a reduced fee.

The 20-year-old has developed into one of the Bundesliga's brightest talents and has been linked with a host of top clubs, including Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Liverpool.

Speculation persists that the player will look to leave when the 2019-20 season comes to an end, but Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes is optimistic of keeping their star man for another year.

He also warned prospective bidders that Leverkusen will demand a huge fee despite the economic uncertainty brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, with the club said to value Havertz at €100million.

20 - Only Horst Köppel (19y 241d) was younger than Kai #Havertz (19y 306d) when scoring his 20th goal in the #Bundesliga. Wunderkind. #VFBB04 pic.twitter.com/7oRj3JFyDG
— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) April 13, 2019

"We have hope and we'd like him to play with us again next season," Rolfes told Sport1. "We're in good talks with Kai, open and trusting, even if there's always a lot of speculation.

"For Kai, the only thing that counts is to concentrate on the sporting side.

"The price for absolute top players remains high."

Havertz has 11 goals and five assists from 26 Bundesliga appearances this season.

He was forced to miss the 4-2 defeat to Bayern on Saturday due to muscular problems, a result that leaves Leverkusen fifth in the table but just three points behind third-place RB Leipzig with four games remaining.