Forget Lukaku and Werner - Is Havertz developing into Chelsea's best striker?

Stefan Bienkowski

• 19 Nov 2021 11:15 GMT
• 3 min read

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel will undoubtedly be calling upon Kai Havertz to once again lead the line when his side travels to Leicester City in the Premier League this weekend.

Indeed, while Timo Werner could make a late return to the Stamford Bridge side, his fitness is still within doubt and he’s most likely to find himself sitting this game out, alongside the injured Romel Lukaku.

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However, rather than relying on a back-up player in a role he’s entirely uncomfortable in, Tuchel can instead task Havertz with a vital position that the young talent has quickly grown into this season.

So much so that rather than struggle with Havertz leading the line, Tuchel’s Chelsea side have often looked at their very best over the course of the last month or so.

Which has led some fans to wonder whether the Germany international’s best position going forward may in fact be at No.9. So how does Havertz’s record in the box compare to the two strikers he’s been tasked with replacing this season?\

Has Havertz been Chelsea’s best striker this season?

While Havertz may have joined Chelsea from Bayer Leverkusen as a lanky box-to-box midfielder, he has developed into a different player under the club’s coaching and training.

Now, in Tuchel’s specific system, the Germany international is a far more physical player and can certainly put his height to good use by winning headers in the box. And when coupled with his excellent close control, it makes Havertz a real asset in the final third.

Indeed, from the 497 minutes of football Havertz has played as a more traditional No.9 for Chelsea this season, he’s already bagged three goals and one assist for the Premier League side. Which works out at 0.72 goals and assists per 90 minutes.

Not only is that better than his record as an attacking midfielder for the club, but it’s also notably more impressive than Lukaku’s average of 0.54 per 90 and Werner’s 9.40 per 90. In other words, Havertz has been Chelsea’s most effective No.9 this season.