Joining Jurgen Klopp’s Premier League leaders Liverpool is a dream for RB Leipzig’s Bundesliga goal-machine Timo Werner.
Anfield legend John Aldridge is not expecting Timo Werner to gatecrash Liverpool’s famed front three but believes the RB Leipzig star can be the ‘’quality back-up’ option Jurgen Klopp needs, while speaking to the Liverpool Echo.
While the tabloids have attempted to suggest that Sadio Mane and Mo Salah could be tempted to take the Luis Suarez route this summer by swapping Merseyside for a Spanish giant, the smart money is on two African superstars sticking around for at least another season alongside the brilliant Brazilian Bobby Firmino.
That, then, leaves Werner’s position somewhat unclear.
The Independent reports that the jet-heeled Germany international would have no qualms fighting for his place at Anfield with a £50 million move to Liverpool his top priority.
But that is easier said than done. How he will adapt to life alongside Divock Origi and co on the bench remains to be seen, after three years as Leipzig’s go-to goal-scorer.
“Whoever arrives in the summer will be faced with a similar situation as there’s no suggestion Salah, Mane or Firmino are going anywhere but we do very much need quality back-up,” Aldridge said of Werner, likening the situation to when he joined Liverpool in the ‘80s and was forced to play second fiddle to the great Ian Rush.
“The position Liverpool as a club are in now means whoever they bring in will be someone of top quality, with plenty of goals already under their belt and that should mean they’ve got plenty of confidence themselves.
“It is different now though in that it’s more of a squad game with rotation etc so there may not be as much pressure especially as the front three lads will most likely still be around.
“Whoever Liverpool bring in will still have to deliver and will need that self-confidence but if it is Timo Werner, from what we have seen so far that is not something he’s short of!”
With 27 goals and 12 assists produced during another stunning individual season at Leipzig, Werner would surely stroll into the starting XI of most European giants without breaking a sweat.
But Liverpool are a cut above pretty much everyone else on planet earth right now.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
