After arriving in one of the most significant transfers of the summer, Kai Havertz is yet to really get going at Chelsea.
While there have been flashes of brilliance from the youngster, he’s yet to hit full gear and really show why the Blues were keen to pay such a hefty price for him.
That continued this week, with two disappointing performances in the defeats to Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers leaving plenty, including Chelsea boss Frank Lampard, scratching their heads.
His lack of form has not gone unnoticed back in Germany and Kicker take a look at the situation today and try to defend the youngster.
They say ‘patience is needed’ with him at this moment in time as while he is Germany’s most expensive export he is nowhere near the finished article.
Such a standing means he has ‘high expectations’ around him, but the reality is that at 21-years-old, he was always an ‘investment’ and a ‘promise for the future’.
The question is, when does that future begin? That, Kicker say, is something Lampard has to work out as he will play a ‘decisive role’ how things go.
While he clearly believes in the player and has backed him publicly on several occasions, there are several questions he is responsible for answering, such as ‘how patient can he be without Havertz losing his touch?’ and ‘where does he let Havertz play?’
The latter is particularly crucial as the German has been moved around since arriving, playing as a right-winger, a number ten and a wide eight.
There is also an onus on the player, who needs to be more ‘aggressive defensively’ and decisive in general as at present his Chelsea teammates are struggling with his ‘running routes and ideas’.
Another issue is Mason Mount, who is in good form himself and ‘is not only Lampard’s favourite’ but has a better assists record, shots on goal record and passing accuracy than his fellow midfielder.
Indeed, Kicker believe it is ‘conceivable’ that Havertz will be dropped for next week’s clash with West Ham as Chelsea look to bounce back from two disappointing defeats and the German’s form refuses to pick up.
