Liverpool have made a lot of progress under Jürgen Klopp, who has managed to galvanise the club and the fans, but the team isn’t complete just yet.
The Reds have one of the best attacks in Europe, and the midfield has improved after a bit of summer spending.
However, because of how well the Liverpool attack has done in the last 24 months or so, some of the problems have been papered over.
The attack has done a bulk of the goal-scoring, and slowly, even the fans have realised the importance of having a goal-scoring midfielder, one the Reds haven’t had since club legend and former skipper Steven Gerrard.
Over in Germany, a teenager going by the name of Kai Havertz has caught everyone’s eye, and has shown abilities that seem like a concoction of a Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mesut Ozil at their peak.
Why Liverpool should go all in for Kai Havertz
The Bundesliga is a breeding ground for young players to shine. Often, it’s either attackers who seem to impress.
In the last few seasons or so, the likes of Julian Brandt, Christian Pulisic, Amine Harit, Serge Gnabry, and Jadon Sancho have impressed. But not many young midfielders have had the impact Havertz has managed this season.
Unlike in the case of the attackers, the margin for error in case of midfielders is pretty thin. If Sancho misplaces a pass in the attacking third, at worst, it’s a counter attack for the opposition team if Dortmund aren’t able to regroup. But if Havertz does the same in midfield, their is a bigger chance of Leverkusen being punished.
That’s where Havertz has impressed with his incredible composure that seems belies his age. At just 19, the midfielder has performed like a seasons pro. The composure that Schweinsteiger showed in his late 20s, and that has had even Bayern Munich drooling as they have been linked with the player.
Havertz has a bit of magic in that left foot of his, and although Liverpool have Naby Keita, who might come good in the coming months or in his second year at the club, Havertz is a talent the Reds just have to make an attempt to sign.
The Leverkusen man has a bit of everything in his locker — composure, the ability to take on players and beat them with trickery and changes of pace, the eye for a pass, and the ability to finish off a chance – which is why the club rate him highly.
Even Joachim Loew was impressed with the teenager’s development, and finally handed him his first cap with the German national team in September last year.
In 25 Bundesliga appearances so far this season, Havertz has managed 10 goals and four assists from midfield, which is an impressive return not just for a teenager, but also for someone who plays predominantly in the team’s build-up play.
Karim Bellarabi, Leon Bailey, Kevin Volland, and Julian Brandt: Leverkusen have a talented attack. But Havertz is just one goal behind Volland, who is the club’s top scorer in the league this season.
Havertz has a contract with the club that runs until the summer of 2022 and is like to cost more than €65 million. But considering everything he has achieved despite his tender age, he’s one player Klopp and co. should do everything to sign in the summer.