It seemed like a done deal for weeks, months even; Timo Werner to Liverpool fit like a glove theoretically, but now the Reds must bank on the more expensive Kai Havertz instead.
With the news breaking just yesterday that Timo Werner would move to Chelsea instead of Liverpool, two fan bases are at different elevations of emotion so to speak.
On the one hand, Chelsea is creating a formidable young squad with the likes of Christian Pulisic, Mason Mount, Hakim Ziyech and now Timo Werner. Other talented youth like Tammy Abraham and Callum Hudson-Ochoi will contribute as well to a really scary team under Frank Lampard.
Meanwhile, Liverpool, the champions-elect of the Premier League, are left with tremendous capital and yet, few targets comparatively speaking. It is the skill, the talent and the youth of the players, like Barça and Madrid are always rumored for, that often keeps runs of team success going longer; it appears that Kai Havertz is the best option in this vein for Liverpool moving closer to a delayed summer window.
Kai Havertz: Liverpool’s New Swiss Army Knife
I have spoken about Kai Havertz previously; at this time however, the thought of both Havertz and Timo Werner appeared more reasonable. Months gone, and an international pandemic later, Werner is going off the board and Kai Havertz has looked incredible upon his return to play.
While he will not be cheap, he is even more imperative for Liverpool than ever before; Adam Lalana is likely gone after this campaign and while Liverpool is strong in the middle, Havertz is likely too good and young to pass up.
He is not bound to the middle of the pitch exclusively though; he is capable of playing wide if need be; this would give an awfully intimidating attack with subs unleashing combinations of the best attacking football in England.
Under Jurgen Klopp, it is difficult to imagine that the young talent will not further bloom and develop in a system and team that can accentuate him. Kai however, also accentuates all the talent already at Anfield.
It is a scary proposition; Firmino, Sadio Mane, Muhammad Salah, Kai Havertz, Naby Keita and Fabinho all potentially inflicting pressure on you for 90 minutes. That these players could somehow all be squeezed on the same pitch, on the same team, is a remarkable potentiality as well however. It is one that almost cannot be passed up at this point.
Price Tags and Ambition
In the quickest of hindsight’s, Liverpool should’ve likely purchased Werner with his release clause earlier; they’ve long had the money to do so, and Werner has long expressed a desire to play under Klopp. Now, while Chelsea has a remarkable player fall right into their lap, Liverpool will likely pay for their recalcitrance by the payment of still greater sums to Bayern Leverkusen than they would’ve to RB Leipzig.
With this in mind, Liverpool will likely have to spend more readily than before, despite that the market may be slightly depressed because of the pandemic and its associated factors. But there is no doubt; this is an essential purchase and one that must come before more teams regroup and go all in themselves.
Should they choose not to, it will not be the end of the world for Liverpool, but they’ll have let a valuable chance to improve with a remarkable talent. While clubs like Chelsea continue to reload, Manchester City as well, Liverpool would be simply gliding in neutral; is that really the best way to build and maintain a powerhouse football club?