Kai Havertz in action for Chelsea. (GETTY Images)
Writing on the Daily Telegraph (subscription required), as cited by Daily Mail, Jamie Carragher has questioned Frank Lampard’s decision to spend big on Kai Havertz without knowing where he fits at Chelsea.
The Blues signed Kai Havertz in the summer of 2020 for £89million. The 21-year-old came in with big expectations but has failed to impress so far.
Chelsea have also been on a poor run of form recently. They have won just one out of their last five league games, losing three. Amidst this, Carragher believes Frank Lampard has not figured out the “right formula”.
The former Liverpool defender says this is down to the manager having too many options to choose from, and then questions the club’s decision to sign Havertz.
“I look at Kai Havertz and wonder if Chelsea really needed to sign him last summer?”
The footballer-turned-pundit then wonders if Chelsea signed him just because of his reputation without knowing where he fits in the XI.
“It never works buying a player because he is so highly-rated unless you have a predetermined idea where he will fit into the side.”
It is not wrong to wonder if Lampard knows what Havertz’s best position is. The German playmaker has played in a variety of positions this season in midfield and attack.
During that time, he has largely failed to impress in his 20 outings for Chelsea so far this season. Apart from a hat-trick against Barnsley in the League Cup, he has scored just once in the other 19 matches. (Stats courtesy: Transfermarkt)
However, it should be understood that Havertz has moved to a foreign club for the first time in his career. The Bayer Leverkusen youth product has only played at Chelsea for a few months.
Chelsea recently loaned Jadon Sancho on a season long load deal from Manchester United. (with an obligation to buy)
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