Timo Werner and Kai Havertz’s failure to make an instant impact at Chelsea cost Frank Lampard his job, according to his former West Ham boss Harry Redknapp… and claims Ben Chilwell was the ONLY summer signing former midfielder was ‘mad keen’ on
- Germany striker Timo Werner joined Chelsea from RB Leipzig in a £53m deal
- He was later joined at the club by £89m international team-mate Kai Havertz
- The pair have scored just five Premier League goals with the Blues struggling
- Frank Lampard was therefore sacked and replaced by Thomas Tuchel this week
Frank Lampard paid the ultimate price at Chelsea because big-money summer signings Timo Werner and Kai Havertz have failed to hit the ground running, according to Harry Redknapp.
Striker Werner joined the club from RB Leipzig in a £53million deal while midfielder Havertz was an £89m acquisition from Bayer Leverkusen.
The Germany international duo were part of a £253m summer spending spree under Lampard, who also signed Ben Chilwell from Leicester, former Ajax star Hakim Ziyech and Edouard Mendy from Rennes.
Frank Lampard (right) paid the price for Timo Werner and Kai Havertz’s failure to hit the ground running, according to Harry Redknapp (left)
The Germany duo have scored just five Premier League goals since big-money summer moves
But after a run of five Premier League defeats in eight games and the club ninth in the table, Lampard was dismissed earlier this week after just 18 months in the role and replaced by Thomas Tuchel.
And speaking to The Sun, Redknapp – who was Lampard’s manager when the former midfielder began his career at West Ham – believes his undoing at Chelsea shows how ‘crazy’ modern football is.
‘Chelsea spent fortunes on new players and as manager you’re under pressure — not only to play them — but for them also to be an instant success,’ Redknapp said.
‘When they don’t, like the two Germans Timo Werner and Kai Havertz, then the buck stops with the boss. But I’m sure Frank isn’t the one behind all the signings Chelsea have made.
Chelsea’s struggles saw Lampard replaced by German boss Thomas Tuchel earlier this week
‘I’d say the only one he was mad keen on getting was Ben Chilwell. That’s how crazy the game has become.
‘The most important man in the building is whoever is in charge of recruitment. And if his judgment isn’t good, you’re in trouble.’
The German pair have netted just five Premier League goals between them since leaving their home country for Stamford Bridge.
Former Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund boss Tuchel saw his new Blues side record a goalless draw at home to Wolves in his first game in charge.
Redknapp claims left-back Ben Chilwell (left) was the only signing Lampard was ‘mad keen’ on
And ahead of his second game in the Chelsea hotseat against Burnley, the German boss has vowed to rebuild the confidence of compatriot Werner, who has not scored a Premier League goal since scoring against Sheffield United on November 7.
‘Sometimes as a striker it does not help if you care a lot,’ Tuchel said. ‘Sometimes as a striker it’s better to not care at all. But he’s not that guy. He cares and he’s not happy with himself and with the way things went lately.
‘At the moment — and the reason why I did not use him on Wednesday — I see his face is a bit closed and the weight is on his shoulders. He cares a lot and that shows he has a fantastic character.
‘It’s important to rebuild his trust in himself and to find a smile on his face and stop doubting too much. It’s my job to do this, to help him with this and then to find also a position where we can use his strengths.’
Chelsea spent £253m this summer including signing Hakim Ziyech (left) and Edouard Mendy