Bayer Leverkusen wonderkid Kai Havertz has put Arsenal on alert with comments about his future.
The Germany international was linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium as recently as last autumn as there was talk of club's former head of recruitment Sven Mislintat looking to secure a deal for the 20-year-old.
With an impressive tally of 20 goals and seven assists to his name across all competitions last season, Havertz would certainly be an ideal signing for the Gunners and Unai Emery.
Although it's not quite simple as the north London outfit would face strong competition for his signature from Premier League rivals Manchester United and Liverpool as well as a number of Europe's top clubs - most notably the reigning Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.
Havertz is well aware of the interest in him.
The attacking midfielder has opened up on why he stayed at Leverkusen this summer and also revealed there could be movement next summer.
"They haven’t scared me off," Havertz told Sky Germany. "I don’t know exactly what it was like with Timo [Werner], but it just didn’t happen for me this year. I think there were a number of reasons why.
"But I’m happy to be here and stay in Leverkusen for another year.
"We’ll see what will happens next summer."
What could tip things in Arsenal's favour is the fact that Havertz's idol is Mesut Ozil.
"To doubt his footballing qualities is incomprehensible to me," he told German website Spox last season. "He has always been a player whom I love to watch and whose path I follow.
"Mesut Ozil is a really great player, who has done a lot for the national team and also his clubs."
The Gunners did sign an attacking midfielder during the 2019 summer window with Dani Ceballos joining on a season-long loan deal from La Liga giants Real Madrid.
But given that deal doesn't include an option to buy permanently, could it be that Havertz becomes the club's first-choice target in 2020?
