Kai Havertz is the name on everyone’s lips at the moment as supporters across the world indulge themselves in some actual live football.
The return of the Bundesliga has been an unprecedented one given the current circumstances, but most have welcomed being able to watch live football again. For supporters unfamiliar with the German top flight, a number of players will have caught the eye and Havertz should be at the top of that list.
Four goals in games against Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Mönchengladbach have left many fans eulogising over the 20-year-old who has demonstrated world class traits. Through scoring goals and creating chances, Havertz is becoming one of the most talked about youngsters in European football and looks set for a stellar career at the top level.
Such a rise to the top of world football may only be possible with a move to one of the most elite clubs in Europe and rumours of a move to either Liverpool or Bayern Munich won’t be going away any time soon.
However, here at football.london we’re always interested to see how London clubs could be changed by a potential signing and it would be rude not to speculate over three potential moves for one of European football’s most exciting talents.
Chelsea have been widely linked with a move for Havertz, and Arsenal and Spurs could also be interesting fits for the 20-year-old, but where would he be best placed?
Arsenal
While incredibly unlikely due to Arsenal’s current place in English football, the arrival of Havertz would be an exciting prospect.
Playmaker Mesut Ozil is set to depart the Emirates Stadium in the near future and a major creative void will be left in his departure. As a result, Havertz would most likely become the main man for the Gunners and the potential to link up with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang would be an exciting proposition.
However, the lack of Champions League football at the Emirates Stadium means that Havertz will have many more options to choose from that could see him fulfil the expectation already being placed upon him.
One thing that this thought process does highlight, though, is that Arsenal will need to be looking for the next Havertz if they want to directly replace Ozil. The 20-year-old’s creativity levels are comparable to his fellow German but notable attributes in goal-scoring shows just how good he can become as a player - one that Arsenal may come up against if he is to move to a Premier League rival, too.
Chelsea
Out of all three clubs, Chelsea have been the ones most frequently linked with a move for the Bayer Leverkusen attacker and could be seen as the most attractive destination.
Frank Lampard is starting to earn credit for investing faith in youth and he is laying the foundations of something really exciting at Stamford Bridge. It remains to be seen whether they will have Champions League football next season, but finishing in the top four would be a significant boost in the Blues’ efforts to sign world class players.
On paper, Havertz’s arrival would add creativity and goals to Lampard’s side but also build a bridge between midfield and attack. Used in an attacking midfield role, the 20-year-old would be able to thrive alongside Mason Mount and Callum Hudson-Odoi whilst providing significant support for Tammy Abraham.
Again, the likelihood of signing Havertz is likely to depend on a number of factors but continued involvement and development in the Champions League would certainly help their case. Ultimately, though, the current state of Chelsea’s squad means that they won’t be desperate to sign Havertz for £100m+ this summer.
Tottenham Hotspur
Havertz’s theoretical arrival at Spurs would be an interesting one and certainly a move to require a re-think for Jose Mourinho from a tactical point of view.
The success enjoyed by Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Heung-min Son as an attacking trio has been a key part of Spurs’ development over the past five years or so, but Havertz would significantly change the dynamic.
His role as an attacking midfielder or false nine for Bayer Leverkusen over the past two seasons has shown him to be adept at receiving the ball between the lines and creating chances for others. Combined with Kane who boasts a phenomenal goal-scoring record, those attributes could be used to great effect.
However, the introduction of Havertz would significantly alter the involvement of Alli who often makes similar runs beyond the striker that the 20-year-old would most likely look to do. Such a similarity in off the ball movement means that Spurs’ need for the Bayer Leverkusen attacker is less than Arsenal and Chelsea.
