When Kai Havertz completed a £71million move to Chelsea in the summer of 2020, there were huge expectations placed on the German's young shoulders. The 22-year-old came to England as one of the most sought-after young talents in European football after impressing in the Bundesliga.
Former Chelsea boss Frank Lampard, who signed Havertz from Bayer Leverkusen almost two years ago, explained at the time just why the club were so desperate to bring him in. Lampard said: "I've loved him for a long time as a player since he came through.
"He's a different player to what I was but, when it's an attacking midfielder that scores goals, obviously I certainly sit up and take notice. His style is very unique, he's 6ft 2ins plus, which is a great help in the modern day to have tall players in forward areas like that but the most important thing about him is his natural quality of receiving the ball and talent on the ball and calmness and quality and he arrives to score goals."
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In his debut season with the club, it was a mixed start for Havertz. It took him some time to get going, but his performances gradually improved as the campaign went on and he became a hugely important player in the second half of the season under Thomas Tuchel.
Of course, the small matter of the winning goal in last season's UEFA Champions League final against Manchester City instantly put his name in club folklore. Havertz has gone on to kick on this season, especially in recent matches.
The Germany international has scored in five out of his last six games for Chelsea in all competitions and has overtaken Romelu Lukaku in Tuchel's pecking order. His ability to play in the false nine role offers the Blues something different in the attacking areas, with the German consistently dropping deep and dragging defenders out of position to allow his team-mates more space in the final third.
Now, Paul Merson, when predicting Chelsea's FA Cup clash with Middlesbrough to Sportskeeda, via Metro, was full of praise for Havertz. He said: "I told everybody about Kai Havertz earlier this season - what a player he is turning out to be!
"It took him a bit of time as he struggled with COVID-19 at the start, but now we're beginning to see the player who absolutely ripped it up in Germany. The goal he scored against Newcastle United, in my opinion, is undoubtedly one of the goals of the Premier League season so far."
Here are the comments earlier in the season Merson referred to: "He’s 21-years-old [now 22], he’s going to be a good player. People can sit down with me and say he ain’t done anything but he will be special. He will be a special player."
Gary Neville agrees with Merson about the sky-high potential of Havertz. Neville said this last year: "I actually think Havertz has gone up a level but he is in third gear.
"He could go to fourth gear and to fifth gear. He could become an absolutely great player. When he really fills out, and he will do, he is already a great runner with the ball, but he will get more confidence, more belief and in a couple of years he could be someone who is absolutely there.
"Remember what Chelsea did with Eden Hazard? He went from here, to here, to here. I think that is what Havertz will do."
Chelsea take on Middlesbrough in the FA Cup quarter-final on Saturday evening and Tuchel could make a host of changes from the side that beat Lille earlier in the week. Havertz started that game in France, so the German could be handed a rest for the trip to the Riverside Stadium.
The former Leverkusen star recently revealed while he is happy with his recent form, he wants to continue to progress at Chelsea. He said: "I'm in a good run right now I think. I've played some good matches in the past, so maybe with my performances in the last few matches.
"But I think as a footballer, you're always hungry and want more. So I hope I can play with a lot more consistency, like in the last year for example, and I hope I can keep on going like this."
