Meet 17-year-old Bayer Leverkusen wonderkid Kai Havertz dubbed the ‘new Mesut Ozil’ who is attracting interest from Real Madrid
Youngster's form has been so strong in recent weeks, he earned his Champions League debut against Atletico Madrid this week
WHEN he made his debut for Bayer Leverkusen in October, coming off the bench during the 2-1 defeat to Werder Bremen, at 17-years-old, Kai Havertz became the club’s youngest ever player.
On Tuesday against Atletico Madrid, the teenager’s excellent form, that has led to comparisons with Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil, was rewarded with his first start in the Champions League.
take a closer look at the kid that has taken the Bundesliga by storm this season.
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It didn’t quite go as he would have dreamed, the midfielder playing 56 minutes in the 4-2 defeat at home, but that won’t stop the hype from growing, especially when you catch a glimpse of what the Aachen-born youngster has up his sleeve.
In 13 appearances, six from the start, Havertz has provided four assists and shown an eye for creating something out of nothing.
Standing around 6ft 1ins tall, he is far from the diminutive little No10 that you would associate with the position. However, he can jink past defenders and drift past opponents.
Although he favours his left foot, he is comfortable on both and whether he is playing in the middle of the 4-2-3-1, or just off the striker in a 4-4-2, he can push down both flanks to create chances for his team-mates.
This season, in 624 league minutes, he is averaging 1.3 shots per 90 minutes - 0.6 of them finding the target.
More impressively, it’s what he does with the ball at his feet in terms of passing that onlookers would have been keen to see.
Havertz attempts 2.7 dribbles and is successful with 1.6 per 90 minutes.
For someone so young, he sees a lot of the ball. 57.5 passes per game, but he keeps it simple, playing 42.4 of them short.
That’s more than Chelsea target Hakan Calhanoglu and the experienced Charles Aranguiz.
Used mostly as a sub before the turn of the year, the decision that will see his Turkish team-mate banned until the end of the season has helped Havertz gain more minutes on the pitch.
Bayer boss, Roger Schmidt, knows what he is doing though, he has history of bringing through young talent slowly, doing the same with Liverpool target Julian Brandt.
Calhanoglu’s ban has certainly helped the 17-year-old’s chance of gaining more minutes, but there is a belief that the young playmaker is there on merit.
Due to his inexperience and eagerness to make things happen, he does still give the ball away too much - five times per game.
However, compared to Brandt (5.1), Calhanoglu (3.4) and Kevin Volland (4.3) he’s not too far off.
You would expect that from a player who takes up attacking positions and looks to beat defenders and find killer passes.
There must be a risk/reward balance, and so far, Havertz has found it.
Against Frankfurt, he showed his dribbling ability, reminiscent of a young Javier Pastore, slaloming through four defenders before the ball broke away, falling to Javier Hernandez to finish.
Like an in-form Ozil, the young German has also shown a great eye for a pass.
His little reverse ball against Augsburg ripped them apart, putting the chance on a plate for the former Manchester United striker, the Mexican finished with ease.
Ozil is enduring a difficult campaign, his performances have been heavily criticised, but Havertz will be pleased with how he measures up to the midfielder who is 11 years older than him.
The former Real Madrid man averages more shots, with 1.6, but only 0.6 on target per 90 minutes.
He doesn’t match up in terms of dribbling, only 1.7 attempted per 90 minutes and 0.7 successful.
The 28-year-old sees more of the ball, with 65.8 passes per game, but that is more down to the style of the teams.
Although Bayer have switched to try and hold on to the ball more, rather than hitting on the break, they still don’t hold possession as much as Arsene Wenger’s side.
Ozil still makes more key passes, 2.9 per 90 minutes, with Havertz on 1.3, but the Gunner still loses control of the ball 3.6 times.
At this stage in his career, the teenager should be delighted that he is matching up well against the German international, rather than a failing Ozil who could soon be replaced by the young pretender.
