Chelsea: How Frank Lampard could line up the Blues with Kai Havertz
By Adam Bakr
With Kai Havertz requesting a transfer, rumors of the German signing with Chelsea in the transfer window are heating up.
Kai Havertz is one of Europes best young talents, and also one of the most versatile ones. He has played as an attacking midfielder, center forward, and right-winger throughout this season. This gives Chelsea plenty of options if they were to get him, but with recent signings, it seems likely he would play as the attacking mid.
Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech have already signed and will likely play as aa striker and/or right-wing, respectively. Initially, it seemed that Mason Mount would be the man to make way for Havertz. This would have likely seen the German international line up in front of N’golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic.
Recent changes made by Frank Lampard
Recently, however, Ross Barkley’s increased minutes may prove as a blueprint to how Havertz will fit in. Barkley played with Mount and Kante in the midfield in games against Manchester City, Watford, and the second half against Aston Villa in the return. Havertz in for Barkley
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Chelsea would win on all three occasions and come from behind in the Villa game after the switch was made by Lampard. The lineup has returned Kante to being the loan defensive mid and tested how Mount would work with a more attacking mid playing alongside him.
Whether Lampard saw this as the best fit for the team or a test to how Havertz will fit in is unknown. What we do know is that the lineup has worked. Mount in the number 8 position with his high work rate has been great for Chelsea.
His press has limited chances for the opposition and kick-started Chelsea attacks. Kante has looked better as the lone six and has a history of success there. You just have to look at his PFA Player of the Year campaign when Chelsea last won the league in 2017.
Havertz in for Barkley
Slide Havertz in for Barkley, and it’s a great midfield to complement the forward line. Barkley has provided sparks for the Chelsea offense, but Havertz could further excel in that role. His decision making is quicker and his final product is better than the Englishman’s.
His goalscoring and creativity would be a welcomed attribute to the midfield. He has reached double digits in goals in each of his last two league seasons. Having Havertz and Mount behind Christian Pulisic, Werner and Ziyech give Chelsea one of the league’s most versatile offenses. Pulisic and Ziyech can play on the wings and drop into the midfield to create.
Mount has played out wide a few times this season and looks comfortable all around the attacking half. Werner can play down the middle or wide. Havertz can make his runs into the box as a nine and drift out wide to create.
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Chelsea would also have loads of depth, even if there are sales in the summer. Billy Gilmour, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Kovacic, Jorginho, and Barkley would all be on the bench if the aforementioned lineup is the one that plays the most or all the time when there are important meetings.
Even if two of them were to leave in the summer, Chelsea would still have options to rotate and switch up the tactics. It also means that if one of the front three were injured, Havertz could fill in. Chelsea would still be fine in the midfield with their plethora of options.