Man United Rumors: Kai Havertz 'Heir' To Red Devils Addressed By Sporting Director

Manchester United may have to scratch one name off its list of targets for the upcoming transfer window.

It is expected that Manchester United will search for a potential signee in the midfield pool of the January transfer window market. While the Red Devils are still dealing with the contract extension drama of midfielder Paul Pogba, rumors have begun swirling that they will make a swoop for Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz.

However, Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voller said that pulling the 18-year-old out of his current deal will be difficult for any team. In addition, Voller is certain that Wirtz “will be in good hands” with them at least “for a few more years.”

"Not only because of the contractual situation – but also because of the trust we have built in him and his family, we know that he will be in good hands here for a few more years,” Voller told Bild of the reason why Wirtz is not leaving Bayer Leverkusen anytime soon.

Wirtz has become the “heir to Kai Havertz” at Bayer Leverkusen since Chelsea signed the 22-year-old last summer. For Voller, Wirtz could also have the same trajectory as Havertz as time will come that his side will be “too small” for the teenager.

“At some point, maybe that day will come and this club will be too small for Florian, similar to Kai [Havertz],” he admitted. “But that will still take a while. [My] wish is that Florian will stay with us for a few more years. That is important for us and for the whole of the Bundesliga and I think it’s his plan too.”

As for Manchester United, a move for Wirtz could happen in the January transfer window only if interim manager Ralf Rangnick decides that he is a “high-quality” player with a “winning mentality.”

"My opinion on winter [January] transfers is clear: it needs to be a player who would improve the quality and help the team to get better," Rangnick previously said of his January transfer plans. "So it needs to be a high-quality player no matter which area of the pitch."

"He also needs to have the right mentality, not just the right quality," the manager added. "For this competitive league, we need the best possible mentality. He needs to be mature enough, he needs to have a winning mentality. For me, the mentality is more crucial in this league than any other in the world."