Transfer News: Frank Leboeuf urges Chelsea to sign Kai Havertz instead of Philippe Coutinho

Frank Leboeuf has urged Chelsea to sign Kai Havertz, also a target for rivals Liverpool, instead of Philippe Coutinho this summer.

As quoted by Daily Mail, Frank Leboeuf has said in an interview with ESPN FC that Chelsea should sign Kai Havertz instead of Philippe Coutinho. The 20-year-old is also the subject of interest from Liverpool.

Havertz has made giant strides since breaking into the Bayer Leverkusen first-team setup in 2016. In nearly four years since, the player has turned out out almost 150 times for Die Werkself. In spectacular form since the turn of the year, he has 11 goals and 7 assists in just 15 outings in all competitions in this time.

Such has been his rise in stature that Havertz has also been the captain in a few games for his side. His progress has certainly not gone unnoticed, with a number of top clubs, including Chelsea and Liverpool, being linked with him.

Liverpool have one of the most formidable squads in Europe, with Jurgen Klopp’s men dominating the Premier League this season. However, in attack, there is precious little to choose from beyond the first-choice trio of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and former Chelsea winger Mohamed Salah.

While Divock Origi has delivered when given the opportunity, the Belgian has rarely made a mark as a regular. To that end, Liverpool do need an attacker who can compete with Salah, Firmino and Mane, giving Klopp options to rotate. As for Chelsea, the Blues are also eager to bolster their attack, but for different reasons.

Frank Lampard has seen Tammy Abraham shine this season, but Chelsea have been heavily reliant on the Englishman for goals, with no other player scoring regularly. As a result, they have been eager to sign a versatile midfielder who can play various positions while also contributing with goals.

Former Liverpool superstar Philippe Coutinho has been a target for Chelsea, with recent reports suggesting that talks have been initiated between the two parties. Now, though, Chelsea have been advised to look at Havertz instead.

Speaking with ESPN FC, Frank Leboeuf said, “I like his maturity on the field, he looks like someone who is 30 and knows exactly what he has to do and when he has to do it.”

“He’s the master orchestrator of that team and I talked about him last week and I said that’s a player that I would hire for sure. When we were talking Chelsea about Coutinho, when you see that player [Havertz], he should be in the Premier League very soon. He should be because he’s a very, very talented player.”

Leboeuf has previously expressed doubts over the former Liverpool midfielder and indeed, Havertz could be a better alternative, with his penchant for scoring goals while also having the ability to play just about every position in midfield and attack. Chelsea were briefly linked with the German international, seen as an alternative to Coutinho.

However, a move for Havertz might be difficult to get over the line for both Chelsea and Liverpool, as the player reportedly prefers joining Bayern Munich. What now remains to be seen is if Chelsea actually turn their attention towards Havertz, or if they continue prioritising a move for Coutinho.