Marina Granovskaia’s new Eden Hazard Chelsea project in danger of falling into Mesut Ozil trap

Few transfer sagas have quite captured the imagination of Chelsea fans like the chase for Kai Havertz in the summer of 2020.

From a single hint of the club's interest in the Bayer Leverkusen star that spiralled into some of Chelsea's most high-profile negotiations, it was the summer of Kai.

A deal that spanned over 12 months with Marina Granovskaia trying to secure a generational talent, ended in the smiling face of Antonio Rudiger gazing at his watch before looking up to his phone camera and saying: "Come on guys, surely it's time to announce Havertz, no?"

Then came the fancy announcement video of Havertz in all of Nike's finest Chelsea attire accompanied with a gleaming statement from Granovskaia.

“Kai is one of the best players of his age in world football, so we are very happy that his future lies at Chelsea.

"He has proven pedigree in one of the best leagues in Europe, he plays for the German national side and he is an exciting, dynamic talent.”

Not since Eden Hazard's signing from Lille in 2012 did Chelsea fans feel they had grabbed one of Europe's hottest talents away from their rivals. This was a statement to the Premier League and beyond, a long-term investment on a player who was on course to become one of the world's best.

Even if his maiden year at Stamford Bridge was marred by COVID-19, injury and the upheaval of a mid-season sacking, netting the winning goal in a Champions League final has ensured Havertz will be woven into the club's folklore forever.

The hope was that the iconic winner would take a lot of the pressure off his shoulders and he could embark on a smoother second year in west London. Although a second positive COVID test meant he missed three games during December, he has remained