It’s not every day you get the chance to sign a player for half-price. And one suspects that Daniel Levy, the Tottenham chairman not exactly renowned for spending big, will have been delighted by the bit of business Spurs conducted earlier this week.
Any delight in the Tottenham boardroom, however, may not be shared by those who pay for their tickets.
At least, that is the view of former Spurs midfielder Danny Murphy, left scratching his head about a deal that – as far as he is concerned – will do little to reduce the gap between Ange Postecoglou‘s fifth-place side and those who reached the promised land of the Champions League.
For all the good things ‘Turbo’ Timo Werner does bring – his boundless energy levels, his outstanding work rate – there are some rather obvious drawbacks.
Two goals and three assists in 13 Premier League games after arriving on loan from RB Leipzig in January, the Germany international still appears to suffer from the same rush-of-blood recklessness which left Chelsea supporters turning the West London air a colour of blue to match their home kit during his time at Stamford Bridge.
Timo Werner stays at Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham, extending Werner’s loan until next summer, did reduce the option-to-buy clause in his contract from £15 million to £8.5 million.
But the financial benefits of the deal, Murphy argues, do not offset the sporting concerns.
“A little bit perplexed,” Murphy says when asked for his reaction to Werner’s return, speaking to talkSPORT (29 May, 11am). “He hasn’t set the world alight.
“My only thinking is they must be thinking about bringing in a ‘big one’ and having him as a back up.”
Tottenham, HITC understands, are prioritising a classic number nine this summer. There is interest in Brentford contract rebel Ivan Toney, though Feyenoord’s Mexican marksman Santiago Gimenez is emerging as the number one target.
Murphy, however, feels that Werner would struggle to break into Postecoglou’s first choice XI next term even if a centre-forward does not arrive.
“I think (Heung-Min) Son is best on the left personally,” the former England international adds. “And that would leave Werner on the bench.
“If (Postecoglou) is thinking about keeping Son and Richarlison as his frontline, and Werner on the left, I don’t think Spurs fans will be too excited about that. I cant see (Werner) starting in his best team. They are not getting Werner for another season to start.
“They can’t be! They wont break into the top four!”
Spurs told they need attacking upgrades
Tottenham did score an impressive 74 Premier League goals under the former Celtic boss. But, with the efforts spread out all across the pitch, there remains a lack of consistent goalscorers in Postecoglou’s ranks, only Son and Richarlison breaking into double figures and no one hitting the 20 mark.
Spurs’ frontline is full of energetic, effective widemen.
But neither Werner, Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski nor Manor Solomon seem likely to put up the sort of numbers reminiscent of Mo Salah, Bukayo Saka and co without big improvements in their end product.
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