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Three big questions: Chelsea’s Kai Havertz and new horizons

By Travis Tyler

Leverkusen's German midfielder Kai Havertz is interviewed after the German first division Bundesliga football match Werder Bremen v Bayer 04 Leverkusen on May 18, 2020 in Bremen, northern Germany as the season resumed following a two-month absence due to the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Stuart FRANKLIN / POOL / AFP) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by STUART FRANKLIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Leverkusen's German midfielder Kai Havertz is interviewed after the German first division Bundesliga football match Werder Bremen v Bayer 04 Leverkusen on May 18, 2020 in Bremen, northern Germany as the season resumed following a two-month absence due to the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Stuart FRANKLIN / POOL / AFP) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by STUART FRANKLIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY – AUGUST 06: Kai Havertz of Bayer Leverkusen and Filip Helander of Rangers in action during the UEFA Europa League round of 16 second leg match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Rangers FC at BayArena on August 06, 2020 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by Martin Meissner/Pool via Getty Images)
LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY – AUGUST 06: Kai Havertz of Bayer Leverkusen and Filip Helander of Rangers in action during the UEFA Europa League round of 16 second leg match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Rangers FC at BayArena on August 06, 2020 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by Martin Meissner/Pool via Getty Images) /

2. How will he tip the cart in a crowded Chelsea midfield?

In a world where Kai Havertz is not even rumored to be joining Chelsea, one probably wouldn’t find too many begging for him. It is not as though he is not a generational talent, it is merely that he was far more of a luxury buy than a necessary one. The Blues certainly did not need Havertz, but the chance to sign a player like that with no competition was too good to pass up. He undoubtedly improves the team, but he also makes things a bit more difficult for Lampard in team selection.

Without Havertz, there is really no question as to who the midfield three should be and who the three in reserve should be. N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, and Mason Mount would be the starting three. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Billy Gilmour, and Ross Barkley would be the three in reserve (because it seems as though the club wants to sell Jorginho).

light. Related Story. Three big questions: Chelsea's Thiago Silva and the old man role

But Havertz tips that cart. He is far too good not to start but that immediately makes it a tough decision between Kovacic and Mount (likely based on how the opponent will play). But then that leaves an extra man in reserve. Gilmour will be out until late October or early November, but minutes will still become tight for Loftus-Cheek and Barkley. The club likely will not be too bothered by the latter, but the former will be an issue.

If one player had to be selected as the biggest loser of the Havertz deal, it would probably have to be Loftus-Cheek for now. Every other player had a chance to establish themselves under Lampard while Loftus-Cheek recovered. He is still recovering match fitness and it still remains to be seen how he returns as a player post injury. But with Havertz joining and at least three other midfielders preferred over him at the moment, that will be a difficult battle for the Englishman.

The club surely thought of this when Havertz was signed because, again, he was more of a luxury than a necessity. That being said, they still valued that luxury higher than the issues it would cause. Now it will become a task for Lampard to juggle each player into enough playing time to stay content.

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