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Kai Havertz passes Liverpool audition at Rangers but Jurgen Klopp must think of one star
Liverpool are weighing up a summer move for Kai Havertz and Jurgen Klopp will be watching his performances closely for the remainder of the season.
Kai Havertz shows off skills for Bayer Leverkusen
Jurgen Klopp may want to make the most of football while it lasts and he had plenty of other reasons to tune into Rangers' clash with Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday evening. Steven Gerrard’s side were daring to dream in Europe once again with Ryan Kent at the heart of their hopes of a place in the quarter-finals.
But let's not kid ourselves, this was the perfect opportunity for Klopp to watch Kai Havertz in action, something Liverpool may not get to do much more amid the coronavirus chaos.
It was an untidy game, but the German’s quality shone throughout.
This was a typical European night at Ibrox where the stakes were high but it was a battle that lacked quality as the fans generated an atmosphere to remember.
Yet the night showed that Havertz’s footballing IQ is significantly higher than you may expect it to be at his age.
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He knows when to pick a pass, his team-mates give him the ball to make things happen.
When the referee awarded the visitors a penalty for handball after a VAR review, it was him who stepped up to the plate and dispatched it with confidence.
Havertz is still just 20, on paper he’s a boy playing a man’s game. But when you watch him closely, this is a player who is simply destined for stardom.
While there’s no doubt he would blossom with extra quality around him at Liverpool, Leverkusen are quoting in excess of £100million for his talents.
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The Anfield hierarchy do have that kind of money to spend, but not all at once on a player who is still a little way from his peak.
Granted, Havertz is a player that would help Liverpool evolve, but Klopp will want to hang fire. All because of Naby Keita.
The Guinea international was expected to explode onto the scene after arriving from RB Leipzig, but it simply hasn’t been the case.
It’s been a faltering start plagued with injury problems and heading into his third season at the club, we are yet to see him at his best.
Keita cost £52.75m and was a huge investment from FSG. Liverpool won’t be prepared to lose their faith just yet.
That’s because if they were to offload him, he would inevitably come back to haunt the club, given he is clearly supremely talented, but has just struggled with his fitness.
There’s no doubt Klopp is losing patience with the midfielder, but next season he will be given another chance to prove his worth.
Liverpool have the tools to succeed without Keita at the top of his game, but Havertz is definitely lurking in the background and an option worth considering in years to come.