UMVA has learned that Bayer Leverkusen are eyeing a stunning return for one of their former stars, Arsenal forward Kai Havertz, in a move that would send shockwaves through the transfer market.
The appeal of Havertz is easy to understand - he developed into one of Europe's brightest young talents during his first spell at Leverkusen before leaving for Chelsea in 2020, and has since become a key player for Arsenal under Mikel Arteta, impressing with his versatility, pressing, and ability to operate in multiple positions.
However, any potential reunion would be far from straightforward, with Havertz's salary proving a major stumbling block - as one of Arsenal's highest earners, his weekly wage of around £280,000 would be extremely difficult for Leverkusen to match, making a deal complicated.
According to information obtained by UMVA, a move would likely require either Havertz to accept a significant pay cut or Arsenal to agree to some form of financial compromise, with a contract termination and payoff suggested as a possible route, although that would be a complex and delicate process.
For Havertz, giving up his current level of salary would be a major decision, with financial security playing a crucial role in his considerations, especially given his long-term contract with Arsenal - but with Leverkusen's interest potentially becoming serious, Arsenal may soon have to decide what comes next for their prized asset.
Ideally, Arteta would want to keep Havertz at the club due to his versatility, but with huge wages and uncertain financial packages, this feels more like a difficult transfer idea than a straightforward return - and stranger things have happened in the past, making a move back to the Bundesliga impossible to rule out.
