Jamie Redknapp has urged Chelsea fans to remain patient with new signing Kai Havertz who is yet to sparkle for the Blues.
Kai Havertz is yet to impress since making a big-money move to Chelsea over the summer.
The German midfielder joined the Blues in a deal worth around £70m from Bayer Leverkusen earlier this month.
So far, Havertz has started both of Chelsea’s Premier League fixtures this season. He played 80 minutes in the Blues’ opener against Brighton on Monday and 45 minutes in Sunday’s defeat to Liverpool.
Given his price tag, much is expected from the 21-year-old and it has not helped him in any way.
In just his second outing for the club, Chelsea fans and rivals alike have started to question the huge amount spent on Havertz.
Redknapp believes it’s still too early to make claims and says the youngster needs time to adjust in the Premier League.
“It’s a question of time,” Redknapp said of Havertz as quoted by the Mirror. “He’s a young man that’s just come to the country.
“He had trained with the club for five days and was miles off it when he was thrown into the game against Brighton. He played half the game today and I don’t think it suited him as the striker.
“You’ve got to give the lad time. It’s hard but it’s hard enough for an English player moving to a new club in the Premier League let alone a foreigner.
“We’ve got to be very careful as we’re judging a player and already labeling where he’s going to play.
“Havertz is a tremendous player and he’s got lots of talent. They’ve got to give it time. They’ve got [Christian] Pulisic and [Hakim] Ziyech to come in and he’s a No 10 who’s going to go head-to-head with Mason Mount.
“I think with the three midfielders they had in there today, they need a bit more craft. N’Gole Kane was the most progressive and looking to make things happen but that’s not his job.
“I look at Kante as the sort of player who will break it up and get it to players who can do that job.
“Surely we can’t be questioning him already as he’s been here for two minutes?”
Chelsea will look to get back to winning ways when they take on Championship side Barnsley in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.
Havertz will also be looking to put in a stellar performance and answer early questions already asked of him.
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