Despite a string of individual accolades and a reputation as one of the most talented young players in the world, Kai Havertz is still searching for one thing: trophies. At just 21 years of age, time is very much on the side of the midfielder, as is his choice of club this summer when deciding to leave Bayer Leverkusen after six years.

Chelsea won the race to sign the German international back in September and it was Frank Lampard’s development of a young, hungry, attack-minded team that proved irresistible for Havertz.

‘It was important for me to have a club with a vision,’ he told Sport Bild, the German sports magazine, this week. ‘An exciting change is taking place.

‘A transfer like this doesn’t happen overnight. I had to go through all options and things that are important to me. I was watching a lot of Premier League football on TV so I knew Chelsea really well.

‘We’re a young team with many great players and we think offensively. We want to build something and attack, which motivates me a lot. A title with Chelsea is just worth a lot more.’

Key to selling that vision to Havertz was Lampard, who spoke to the youngster about his vision and ideas for the future before the deal was done. The boss’s standing as the club’s record goalscorer and one of the Premier League’s greatest midfielders also had an impact on Havertz’s decision-making.

‘I was always impressed with his scoring threat,’ he continued. ‘I found that outstanding for a midfielder. That’s what I want to measure myself against.

‘The fact that he was so successful and at the same time so personable impresses me.’

While Havertz has missed the past two Chelsea games, as well as this international break, after testing positive for Covid-19, his club team-mates have continued their rich vein of form in his absence.

Lampard has recently discussed burgeoning relationships on the pitch as key to the upturn in performances and Havertz has revealed the one man who has been helping him to settle in a new country and a new league.

‘I help Timo [Werner] with good passes on the pitch and, at the beginning, he helped me out with a lift to the training ground!’ he added.

‘We do a lot of things together and this helps a lot but we also have to do our own things to fully settle here. For me, the move to England is also an important step for my personal development.’