Kai Havertz was one of, if not the best player for Bayer Leverkusen last season. Since making a record fee move worth £89 million to Chelsea, the German midfielder has been a shadow of his former self.
Paul Merson has now had a go at Chelsea’s new boy, comparing him to Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil.
‘Kai Havertz looks like Mesut Ozil at the moment,’ Merson told The Mirror. ‘A major talent, but when he loses the ball, he doesn’t try to win it back.’
‘Ozil used to get major stick because he didn’t always seem interested. But Havertz looks like that sometimes now as well.’
‘He looks like he’s out of his depth or doesn’t really want to be here. But you have to remember this is a young player who’s come to a different country.’
‘I think he’s struggling at the moment and he needs to come off the bench for a few games against tiring teams, get his confidence back.’
Merson’s comments have a good amount of reason and realism involved. Havertz has started Chelsea’s recent games after making a recovery from COVID-19. However, he looked very wasteful and dull in his recent outings on the pitch, especially against Everton and Wolves, both matches that the Blues lost.
While a spell on the bench could be the way to go for Frank Lampard in the weeks to come, there is nobody in the squad who can actually take his place on the right-wing, with Hakim Ziyech and Callum Hudson-Odoi both injured.
Christian Pulisic has managed to return from a hamstring problem, and alternating the German with him could be a double solution to Pulisic’s injury problem and Havertz’s form.
The 21-year-old should not be written off, and should instead be given time to find his feet at the club.
