BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH’S full stadium could do nothing to help their side stop Kai Havertz stealing the Bundesliga show once again.
With matches back underway but behind closed doors, the German outfit decked out their home ground with thousands of cardboard cutouts of fans who sent their photos in.
Borussia Monchengladbach could not entertain their cardboard cutout fans as they fell to a 3-1 home defeatCredit: EPA
Kai Havertz, No29, celebrates opening the scoring as the cardboard fans watch onCredit: EPA
But it proved in vain as Havertz scored twice to help Bayer Leverkusen extend their unbeaten run to seven matches.
The German youngster, 20, took just seven minutes to open the scoring and ‘silence’ the home crowd.
He broke through the static Monchengladbach defence and slotted a neat finish into the back of the net.
Marcus Thuram blasted in an emphatic equaliser after the break but Havertz restored the visitors’ lead from the penalty spot before the hour mark – even sticking his tongue out as he shot.
It took his season tally to 14 for the season including four in two since the season restarted and ensured he has either scored or assisted in his last six appearances.
Sven Bender found the net with nine minutes to go to seal a 3-1 victory which ensured they tightened their grip on a Champions League spot.
But Havertz’s double will no doubt have drawn even more attention from his Premier League admirers.
As revealed by SunSport, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United have all made their interest known in the brilliant young attacking midfielder who was valued close to £100million before the Covid-19 crisis struck.
Manchester City have also joined the race and while Bayern Munich are interested, the reigning Bundesliga champions are still a long way off securing a deal.
That gives hope to the top flight teams in England battling it out to convince Havertz, regarded as German football’s best young talent since Michael Ballack, to make the move to the UK.
But Ballack is determined to convince Havertz – who still has two years left on his current deal – to stick with the club he joined aged 11.
And it is a view echoed by fellow ex-Bayer Leverkusen man Dimitar Berbatov.
The Bulgarian believes the prodigy is better off staying in his homeland and bulking up before making a move to England.
Berbatov said: “I’d like to see Havertz in the Premier League but it is a bit too early for him.
“He will need a bit more muscle. We all know how defenders can squash you and smash you into pieces.
“You need to be ready for that if you are going to hit the ground running in such a demanding league.
“He should stay at Leverkusen and develop even more, get that experience which will help him for when the time comes to go somewhere else.”
Havertz made no mistake from the spot, even sticking his tongue out as he restored Bayer Leverkusen’s leadCredit: EPA
Kai Havertz shows off his footie skills with a piece of chewing gum
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
