Graeme Souness argues that Kai Havertz is NOT the answer to Chelsea’s goalscoring problems
‘It is madness to sell Werner and Lukaku, then spend £170m on three defenders!’: Graeme Souness argues that Kai Havertz is NOT the answer to Chelsea’s goalscoring problems and slams the Blues’ summer spending
- Graeme Souness insists Kai Havertz is not the solution up front for Chelsea
- He started up front v Nottingham Forest amid Chelsea’s attacking struggles
- Souness says Chelsea were wrong to strengthen defence instead last summer
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Graeme Souness has criticised Chelsea‘s transfer strategy last summer, saying that it has left them short of attacking options.
Chelsea started without a natural striker in their side away to Nottingham Forest on Sunday and scored just 19 goals in their first 15 league matches this season. In contrast, leaders Arsenal have found the net 40 times in 16 games.
Souness has said Chelsea lack depth in their attacking line and stressed that Kai Havertz, who started up front against Forest, is not the answer in that position as he is more of a creative player.
Graeme Souness is adamant that Kai Havertz is not the answer in attack for Chelsea
Souness was critical of Chelsea’s decision to prioritise strengthening their defence
Last summer Chelsea sold Timo Werner back to RB Leipzig for £25million, while Romelu Lukaku returned to Inter Milan on loan for a fee of £7m.
Chelsea brought in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Barcelona for £10m, but the striker has lacked consistency and has scored just one league goal this season.
Aubameyang’s recent struggles have been such that he has been left out of the starting lineup despite Chelsea not having many alternative options up front.
Chelsea lost Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner and now don’t have many attacking options
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink believes that Havertz is a superior attacking option to Werner
Souness is baffled by the fact that Chelsea prioritised improving their defence, with Kalidou Koulibaly joining for £33m from Napoli, Marc Cucurella signing from Brighton for £56m and Wesley Fofana moving from Leicester for £69.5m.
According to Souness, Havertz is not a suitable option up front for Chelsea. He outlined the importance of signing goalscorers.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Souness said: ‘No he’s not going to get enough goals. It is madness to sell Timo Werner, Lukaku and then spend £170m on three defenders. Surely you must think, football has never changed.
‘The hardest thing to find is goalscorers. Spending £170m on defenders, if you can afford it go out and do it, but the priority for me is you have sold two strikers, they weren’t the answer not long term or short term, but were better than what they have got right now. You can’t tell me they are better off with the firepower they have got now.’
Chelsea mainly focused on their defence last summer, bringing in the likes of Marc Cucurella
Former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink argued that he would rather have Havertz in attack than Werner, but Souness stressed that Chelsea made a mistake by not signing a striker.
Jamie Redknapp added that Chelsea are set to address the issue next summer by bringing in Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig.
Hasselbaink stated that Havertz is the best option that Chelsea have in attack at the moment.
He said: ‘There has been a lot of chopping and changing. Sterling has played, Broja has played there. Havertz has played there. Aubamayeng hasn’t worked really.
‘Havertz has a very good first 60 minutes against Bournemouth. He needs to play there and stay there. We have seen him in the past that he has played on the left, on the right, as a number 10.
The Blues did sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang but the experienced striker has struggled
‘At the moment we need him as a striker. I don’t think it is his favourite position but I think he is the best Chelsea have at this moment in time.
‘They need to stay will him playing there. A lot of times he drops into the midfield, because he wants to touch the ball more. He will help Chelsea more if he stays up there.
‘When he scores his goal against Bournemouth it was a time he stayed in the box. There he becomes dangerous. He has the calmness to put goals away.’
