Any Kai Havertz deal would put two Liverpool players at real risk

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Mundo Deportivo reports that Liverpool are ‘willing’ to spend £107m on Kai Havertz, a deal that would be bad news for two Reds players.

No matter what you think about the likelihood of the claim, there’s no doubt Havertz would be an exciting signing. He scored 17 goals from midfield last season and is only 20.

He’s one of the most exciting young talents in world football and Liverpool would be lucky to have him. Anyone would.

Two people who wouldn’t be lucky, however, are Adam Lallana and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Any Havertz arrival would seriously threaten their Liverpool careers.

The German is, after all, an attacking central midfielder – the exact role these two currently take up. But Havertz would offer much higher potential.

Take Lallana, for instance. He’s 31 and will be 32 by the end of the season, while his contract is about to expire. If he does stay, it’ll be on a deal where there is little to no expectation of a first-team place.

You’d go as far as saying that if Liverpool did sign Havertz, it’s difficult to see why they’d retain Lallana in the first place. He doesn’t play much as it is and he’s moving towards the end of his career.

Then there’s Oxlade-Chamberlain. He’s now 26 and should be in the prime of his career. Injuries, however, have held him back and any time he’s looked like picking up serious momentum, he’s quickly out of the side.

It’s a shame, as his role as the direct, driven, attacking option in midfield is a key one. Whenever Jurgen Klopp wants to put the pressure on, he turns to Oxlade-Chamberlain.

But that’s also Havertz’s role and if Liverpool spent £107m on him, he’d take priority in it. Not to mention that his 17 goals from midfield last season tops the output of any other option there. He also doesn’t have that history of injury problems.

No big signing comes without sacrifices and if Havertz arrived, it’s clear to see which players would suffer.