How Chelsea’s move for Kai Havertz affects Manchester United

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Manchester United’s competitors Chelsea are continuing to strengthen their squad for next season.

German newspaper BILD reports the Blues’ offer for Kai Havertz is expected to be accepted, with an initial fee of £72 million rising to £90 million.

Here we look through the various ways a Havertz to Chelsea deal impacts Manchester United…

A top player off the market

Havertz is a breathtaking talent and the Premier League is about to find out just how good he is.

He can play in multiple positions, as a striker, number 10, or a winger, and he would have suited United ideally.

In May he was linked with a move to Old Trafford, with highly optimistic claims from The Sun claiming United led the race, and wanted to sign him and Jadon Sancho.

With the Sancho deal stalling, Havertz would have been a top alternative. Instead United showed little appetite to compete against Chelsea.

Potentially world class players like Havertz are not available often. United may regret not pushing harder for him.

Chelsea will be harder to play against

In practical terms, Havertz will make Chelsea tougher for United to play against in our Premier League matches against them.

Combined with fellow new signings Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech, Havertz offers an unpredictability to Chelsea’s attack.

United host Chelsea at Old Trafford on October 24. Losing three points to a rival early on in the season would be a bitter blow at home. Havertz will make Chelsea an awkward side to face.

One less contender for Sancho

There was a possibility that if Chelsea had failed to convince Bayer Leverkusen to sell Havertz, the Blues would have turned their attention to Jadon Sancho.

The hope that United will sign Sancho is the main reason for Red Devils to be optimistic about Chelsea’s Havertz deal right now, in the belief we could match their outlay.

Admittedly, the way the transfer window has gone for United, chances are diminishing by the day.

For now though, there is still a chance, and one positive is that Chelsea will not be in the market for him.

Pressure on United to respond

United cannot use the pandemic as an excuse not to spend. Chelsea have bucked that trend.

They are not the only ones. Napoli have committed a similarly large fee for Victor Osimhen.

Elsewhere in the Premier League, Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham have all been active to differing degrees.

Chelsea’s move for Havertz raises the bar and the ball is now in United’s court to respond.

Inactivity will be shameful

United just cannot not sign anybody. There will be no justifying it. Chelsea are exposing that.

While the Blues have some money stored up from their previous transfer ban, they are currently doing something United are not; they are showing ambition.

Reluctance to pay a club record fee for Jadon Sancho is one thing. Choosing not to sign smartly priced alternatives is another.

Manchester City signed Ferran Torres from Valencia for just over £20 million. A real bargain.

United simply have to make additions, even if they are in a similar price range. Choosing not to strengthen the squad would be setting Ole Gunnar Solskjaer up for failure, and the club’s ownership will be shamed.

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