Havertz could help form a potent frontline at Stamford Bridge despite defensive risk posed on Lampard
The rewards of Chelsea’s £90m Kai Havertz transfer move far outweigh the risks for Frank Lampard
There is just over a week left until Chelsea’s 2019/20 campaign will officially end, but the club have already moved to secure two squad additions that have generated plenty of excitement among supporters.
Highly-coveted forward Hakim Ziyech has moved to Stamford Bridge from Ajax while RB Leipzig striker and Germany international Timo Werner is also joining.
The club have observed a FIFA-imposed transfer ban last summer and after making no January additions, were aware that the squad needed freshened up in the coming transfer window and have wasted no time getting started.
There is still an expectation around Stamford Bridge that several more players will arrive this summer that will provide an instant upgrade not just to the squad, but to the first-team.
Having already raided the Bundesliga for Werner this year, there is another German-based stars who has been strongly linked with a move to West London.
Bayer Leverkusen ace Kai Havertz is one of the most in-demand players at the top end of European football and Chelsea have been frequently mentioned as an interested suitor.
These are rumours that are bringing a great deal of excitement for Blues fans, with the German international quickly establishing himself as one of the Bundesliga’s brightest stars and, aged just 21, someone with a big future ahead of him.
Yet there is also some concern among Chelsea fans – most of which comes from the pressing need to address the club’s multitude of defensive concerns before adding yet more attack-minded talent to their ranks.
But should there also be a worry that Havertz may not be a good fit for Chelsea’s first-team? The German has established himself as the star in Leverkusen, the main man for the team. However, a move to Stamford Bridge means that, whilst he would undoubtedly demand significant status he would be competing with several other stars, and in an attacking system that may be trying to shoehorn three new signings into the starting line-up.
Pedro Rodriguez and Willian are both exiting Stamford Bridge this summer but there is still a wealth of attacking talent; most notably Christian Pulisic, who has excelled in his recent run since the Premier League’s restart last month. If we assume that Pulisic and Ziyech would be regular starters from wide, then that would mean Werner – who is adept at playing any position across an attacking trident – would be the central striker.
Havertz is most at home in an advanced midfield role, which would suit Chelsea’s style of play and he would represent an investment in an area overlooked in recent years. Unless Frank Lampard shifts from his preferred 4-3-3 formation, this would leave the team looking imbalanced – with four starting players committed almost exclusively to attacking.
The most similar player in this mould is Mason Mount, who has performed admirably in his debut season in the first-team squad but who is more industrious and less creative than Havertz. There is little doubt that the German is a more talented player, yet his arrival would not just limit game-time for a youth graduate at a vital stage in his career but also risks leaving Chelsea short in defence.
Of course, tactical flexibility and changing systems should be welcomed and will be necessary over the course of a season but there can be little doubt that this is an element of risk that would be an issue created due to an extreme financial outlay – with Bayer said to value their star at a whopping £90million.
There are clearly more pressing issues Chelsea must address in the transfer market – notably the signing of at least one new goalkeeper, a new left-back and another central defender – and whilst policy can often be dictated by players becoming available, as could be the case with Havertz, this has already seen the club funnel huge sums of money into signing Ziyech and Werner respectively.
Of course, tactical flexibility and changing systems should be welcomed and will be necessary over the course of a season but there can be little doubt that this is an element of risk that would be an issue created due to an extreme financial outlay – with Bayer said to value their star at a whopping £90million.
There are clearly more pressing issues Chelsea must address in the transfer market – notably the signing of at least one new goalkeeper, a new left-back and another central defender – and whilst policy can often be dictated by players becoming available, as could be the case with Havertz, this has already seen the club funnel huge sums of money into signing Ziyech and Werner respectively.
Whilst these signings will no doubt elevate the Blues potential of winning trophies it will also limit opportunities for Callum Hudson-Odoi and Tammy Abraham, with the arrival of Havertz then hitting Mount and, additionally, Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Chelsea’s attacking balance has been good this season with multiple promising combinations and link-up play between a group of talented players. That will increase more so with the two guaranteed summer arrivals, but this needs to be offset by realism of what balance needs to be struck for a functioning team.
The signing of Havertz would no doubt increase the firepower and attacking potential of Chelsea, but it also risks stunting the development of promising players at the club and offsetting the stability in the starting line-up.
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