Havertz sends Haaland message with Arsenal stunner

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 1 Aug 2021 16:29 BST
• 3 min read

Kai Havertz sent Chelsea a message on Sunday that maybe they don’t need to spend big on a new striker this summer.

Havertz scored a wonderful goal in Chelsea’s friendly against Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday.

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The German took a pass from his countryman Timo Werner before lashing a right-footed rocket into the top corner in what was a real striker’s finish.

Ice cold finish from Havertz. Hard not to feel this man is going to have a big, big season. pic.twitter.com/Omgj8HVK72

— Adam Newson (@AdamNewson) August 1, 2021

The Blues have made the signing of a top-class number nine their priority in the transfer market.

This objective has only intensified after they sold Olivier Giroud to AC Milan and put Tammy Abraham on the transfer list.

Will Chelsea sign Haaland this summer?

Ice cold finish from Havertz. Hard not to feel this man is going to have a big, big season. pic.twitter.com/Omgj8HVK72

— Adam Newson (@AdamNewson) August 1, 2021

It is no secret that Chelsea’s number one target for the striker role is Borussia Dortmund wonderkid Erling Haaland.

Haaland has been in sensational form for Dortmund since joining the club from Salzburg in January 2020, scoring 57 goals in 59 games.

The 21-year-old is believed to be valued at €175 million, but any teams interested in signing him may have to wait until 2022 as Dortmund have been steadfast in their stance that they will not allow him to leave this summer.

It is widely reported that there is a clause in Haaland’s contract that is valid from the end of next season that enables the player to leave for a fee of €75m.

Chelsea's other striker targets?

The Norwegian is not the only striker on Chelsea’s summer shortlist as they are also targeting Inter’s Romelu Lukaku and Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski as backup options to Haaland.

However, it is very probable that all three of Chelsea’s top targets will be unbuyable this summer.

And Havertz certainly sent a message of what he is capable of in an unnatural number nine role again on Sunday.

The youngster also starred in this position in the Champions League final in May, scoring the winner against Manchester City in Oporto.

With more and more teams using a false nine in 2021 – as evidenced especially at Euro 2020 – Havertz’s exploits will certainly give Chelsea food for thought as to whether they should try and sign an orthodox number nine.