Champions League or bust for Leverkusen amid Hernandez fears

Bayer Leverkusen chief executive Michael Schade has admitted the club has to qualify for the Champions League next season if they are to have any chance of keeping hold of star striker Javier Hernandez.

Hernandez, 27, has been in sensational form since making the switch from Manchester United over the summer and has fired Leverkusen into third place with 15 games remaining.

However, Leverkusen are well aware of the interest Hernandez is likely to court at the end of the season and Schade believes their best chance of keeping him would be to secure European football for next season.

“If we qualify for the Champions League then we have very good chances that he will stay with us,” he told German newspaper Rheinische Post.

“As things stand now we do not want to sell any player. We are, however, a commercial enterprise and there are limits. If there are huge offers, then we will consider them.”

Only Alexander Meier (46%) has scored a greater proportion of their clubs’ goals than Hernandez this season (45%), emphasising his importance to the club.

For more stats on Javier Hernandez, click here to visit his WhoScored