Havertz has established himself as one of the best players in Germany since making his Bundesliga debut at the BayArena in 2016 and has been touted by many as one of the brightest young talents in European football.
His quick rise to prominence has attracted a lot of top clubs in Europe, with Chelsea said to be his potential destination following recent media reports.
Gundogan, who has played with Havertz three times for the German national team, has made some audacious claims, insisting the 21-year-old is better than Ballack, a man who is considered as one of the best Germany players of all-time.
“In my opinion, Havertz is even better than Ballack in terms of his playing ability,” the former Borussia Dortmund man told SportBild.
“Ballack had a certain level of aggression in his game, and a strong mentality.
“He was a top player of the previous generation – a bastard on the pitch, in a positive sense. Kai isn’t like that.”
Gundogan also weighed in on one of the Blues' summer arrivals Timo Werner, who was signed from RB Leipzig.
The 29-year-old admitted he is wary of Werner’s threat by revealing how popular his compatriot is in Manchester City’s dressing room.
"Believe me: Everyone at City knows about Timo Werner. Many of my team-mates asked what kind of guy he is. He deserves respect," Gundogan added.
