Paul Merson had high hopes for the future of Kai Havertz following his improved performances in a Chelsea shirt, writing in his Sky Sports column.
It’s been a slow start to life at Stamford Bridge for Havertz, but fans and rivals alike have begun to see his full potential in the past few weeks.
Last weekend’s goalscoring display away to Crystal Palace really put down a marker for what should be in the pipeline for the talented 21-year-old.
He led Chelsea’s attack brilliantly and probably should have added to his Premier League tally.
The Blues needing a new centre-forward is a very hot topic entering into this summer’s transfer window.
Granted, Havertz isn’t quite the finished article, nor is he the long-term solution to their striking issues.
But he’s certainly done an admirable job when playing that false nine role and pundits like Merson were starting to see his full potential.
The former Arsenal midfielder commented: “I said Kai Havertz would be a player, a young lad who has arrived with a big price tag and with everything that is going on in the world, he had ‘long Covid’ and that affected him.
“But when you watched him the other day, he is a class act, he is proper, I really think he will be a superstar and in time to come, he will be special.”
A £71m (BBC Sport) move from Bayer Leverkusen last September immediately sent the expectations surrounding Havertz sky high.
Only up until recently has he broken through the clouds and managed to shine for the Blues.
That strike against Palace was just his second league goal of the term, his first in seven months.
Chelsea have some big fixtures before the campaign’s conclusion for their German star to sparkle and perhaps send a reminder to Thomas Tuchel he doesn’t need a new no.9.
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