Dietmar Hamann backs Liverpool target Kai Havertz to thrive in the Premier League

Bayer Leverkusen wonderkid Kai Havertz has the ability to thrive in the Premier League, according to former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann.

The 20-year-old Havertz is a summer target for several top clubs including Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool, with Hamann comparing the playmaker to Michael Ballack and urging his former club to snap him up. 

Since making his Leverkusen debut aged 17 in 2016, Havertz has since become the youngest player to play 50 and 100 games in the German top-flight and to date has one goal in seven games for Germany.

Bayer Leverkusen wonderkid Kai Havertz is a target for Premier League clubs this summer

Hamann told Sky Sports: ‘The one player who stands out for me is Havertz. He’s an exceptional player who reminds me of a young Michael Ballack.

‘He has that air of arrogance… in a nice way. He’s just a natural. He’s two-footed, he’s tall and he’s good in the air.

‘He’s very versatile, he can play across the front, he can play in any position.

‘I think he is the best player we have got in Germany at the moment.

‘There’s talk about Werner maybe going to England and obviously he’s a different player but I think Havertz is the one I would be looking at.’

Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann backed Havertz to thrive in England

Havertz was likened to former Chelsea and Germany midfielder Michael Ballack in style

Hamann also questioned whether RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner would be suitable for the way Liverpool play under Jurgen Klopp.

The Reds are leading the race to snap up the Germany international for £52million this summer. 

He added: ‘I’m not too sure [about it]. The thing with Liverpool is you’ve probably got the best front three in world football.

‘If you play out wide for Liverpool, even though the full-backs like to go on the overlap, Mo Salah and Sadio Mane are both very tricky players, they are very skilful and Werner is not that type of player.

‘His biggest asset by far is his pace and if I watch games now, even at Anfield, with Liverpool being so superior to most teams, most of them sit back.

‘And if you deny Werner space, he’s a lot less effective.

RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner is another possible target for Liverpool this summer

‘If you look at his goal record for Leipzig, his goals this season has been outstanding but they like to play on the counter-attack and they’re not really a possession team.

‘I don’t think he’s got the trickery to play out wide as Mane and Salah have.

‘Then if you look at Roberto Firmino’s position, I think the way they are set up, you almost need a Teddy Sheringham-type player like Firmino is to link things up.

‘He’s not really one who goes in behind the back four, he likes to come short and bring Salah and Mane into the play so I just don’t know where he would play.

‘I’m sure there are players out there who will help Liverpool more next season than Werner.’