Kai Havertz told his place in Chelsea starting XI may already be under threat
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Kai Havertz has been warned his place in Chelsea’s staring XI is already set to come under threat.
The German failed to impress at the front of Frank Lampard’s attack, with the £72m player being taken off after 45 minutes against Liverpool.
He also struggled to make an impact on his debut against Brighton earlier in the week, admitting it was a tough introduction to Premier League life.
Havertz played in a front three with Timo Werner and Mason Mount against the champions – but there are others waiting to return in Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic.
Both players are nursing injuries, with the Ajax arrival picking up a knock in pre-season while the impressive American is recovering from a hamstring injury.
(Image: 2020 Getty Images)
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Frank Lampard’s team have made wavs by signing Kai Havertz, Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell, Hakim Ziyech, Malang Sarr and Thiago Silva.
And they don’t seem keen on slowing down yet. one player who continues to be linked with the Blues is West Ham and England midfielder Declan Rice.
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But former Blues player Craig Burley said both players will be eyeing up the German’s spot after just two games.
Speaking to ESPN FC, Burley said: “I’m sure the lad is testing his fitness and finding his feet and surroundings.
“But he found himself on the field in a more central role with Werner at times playing off the left and Mason Mount on the right, but again he was underwhelming.
“Not questioning his talent, but for the first two games he’s certainly a player that when Pulisic and Ziyech are fit, he’s going to be the one coming under threat because of his first two performances.”
(Image: 2020 Getty Images)
It comes as Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has identified a major Havertz problem Lampard has ta Stamford Bridge.
He told Sky Sports ”I looked at Chelsea last season as being a 4-3-3 team, and now and again Frank threw a three at the back in tactically in big games. He beat Jose Mourinho twice and he beat Guardiola here.
“He went to 4-2-3-1 at Brighton with Havertz on the right. Today, he played him in a false nine.
“He’s obviously a quality player, there’s no doubt about that. But I’m already thinking, ‘where does Havertz play?’ even after just two games.
“He will play as Frank has paid big money for him, but where does he fit into a 4-3-3?
(Image: 2020 Chelsea FC)
(Image: 2020 Chelsea FC)
“He almost looks like a No 10 and we don’t see that much in football nowadays.
“He’s either going to have to be part of the front three in a wide position or he’s going to have to be part of a midfield three and be the attacking player from the midfield.
“Certainly where he played today, I don’t think that suited Chelsea. It may have suited him having played for Leverkusen in the false nine, but it will be a challenge working out where Chelsea are going to play all these players.”
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