Havertz's biggest blow yet?

Stuart Telford

• 26 Jan 2023 09:58 GMT
• 3 min read

Kai Havertz has been linked with a move to Bayern Munich following his Chelsea struggles, but the German champions would rather line up with a Stoke flop leading the line…

Havertz finds himself as Chelsea's first-choice No.9 through lack of a better alternative more than anything.

Romelu Lukaku's return last year was a disaster, and the Belgium striker is back on loan, and unfit, with Inter Milan. Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang's Chelsea career looks to be over before it has really started, meanwhile.

READ: Havertz: Bayern in contact with Chelsea over possible January transfer

Havertz may have scored the winning goal for Chelsea when they beat Manchester City in the Champions League final in May 2021, but 29 goals in 119 games are not the return of an elite-level striker.

Bayern were linked with a €62.5 million bid for Havertz last week by sections of the UK press, but those suggestions have been shot down by Sky Sports Germany's Florian Plettenberg.

'Club already has Choupo'

"News on Havertz: he is NO transfer target for FC Bayern at this stage!" he Tweeted. "Neither now, nor in the summer.

"They don't see him as a No.9 where the club already has [Eric Maxim] Choupo-Moting, [Thomas] Muller and [Mathys] Tel. Nevertheless his departure in summer is possible! Price tag around €50-60m."

READ: Bayern want new deal for Man Utd transfer target more than signings

With Muller a No.10 and Tel just 17, Choupo-Moting is the striker Havertz would be competing with if he did get a move to the Allianz Arena - the same Choupo-Moting who scored five goals as Stoke were relegated from the Premier League in 2018.

Choupo-Moting has recovered his career since then, filling the Barcelona-bound Robert Lewandowski's boots with aplomb this season, but the idea Havertz couldn't get past him shows how far his stock has fallen.

Havertz made his name as an attacking midfielder with Bayer Leverkusen and Germany, and he may have to return to the position if he is to reach his ceiling in the game.