Bayer Leverkusen assistant manager Marcel Daum has admitted that attacking-midfielder Kai Havertz reminds him of former Real Madrid and France legend Zinedine Zidane.
The Germany international, who celebrated his 21st birthday last month, is being heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge ahead of the summer transfer window opening for business, with football.london understanding that the youngster is high up on Chelsea's transfer wish list.
Havertz, who can operate as either an attacking-midfielder or an out-and-out striker, is considered as one of the most highly-rated youngsters in world football, with him having shown great levels of class and maturity throughout the 2019/20 Bundesliga campaign.
It is those performance levels that have led to a whole host of interest from some of Europe's biggest clubs into landing his signature, including Chelsea and Real Madrid.
Though a deal for Havertz will not come cheap, with Leverkusen believed to be wanting a fee of somewhere in the region of £70million - £90million, Chelsea are refusing to give up in their attempts to lure him to Stamford Bridge.
And if the Blues, who will be looking to get back to winning ways when they welcome already-relegated Norwich City to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday evening, win the race for the midfielder, they will be signing a player that has been compared with one of the greatest footballers of all time in the shape of Zidane.
“For me, he has the elegance of Zidane,” said Daum, speaking to talkSPORT. “If you see his movement, he’s very elegant, he’s always calm, he has great passing ability.
“What a lot of people don’t see, because we watch him every day, is that he’s pretty fast. That’s a big bonus.
“He’s a great player; he’s scoring goals, he’s great in the air and he’s pretty fast. It’s up to him how far he can go.
“I can’t say he will be the best German player ever, but he has the talent and there are no limits. He’s displaying signs of Zidane.”
Whilst Chelsea are confident that they can secure a deal for the midfield starlet this summer, a report by the Express claims that the Blues are planning to offload three first-team players to fund a transfer.
It is claimed that the Blues are ready to offload defender Emerson Palmieri and midfield duo Tiemou Bakayoko and Jorginho in an attempt to wrap up a deal.
If the Blues succeed in their efforts to sell the trio, Chelsea will offer Leverkusen €70million to conclude a deal.
