According to The Mirror, Liverpool are now out of the race for RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner after failing to negotiate a knockdown fee.
It’s claimed that Jurgen Klopp has told Werner that, whilst he has wanted him for a long time, Liverpool can’t activate his release clause.
Leipzig are refusing to budge on Werner’s price tag. He has a £50million release clause in his deal, which expires in mid-June, and Liverpool can’t afford that right now.
They instead believe that Werner is now worth less than £30million. Leipzig aren’t entertaining such ideas, and Liverpool have ‘withdrawn completely’ from any talks.
Werner’s release clause drops to £35million next summer, meaning Liverpool may feel they simply don’t need to be bullied into a deal now, given the global pandemic.
Liverpool’s transfer budget will have been hit hard. In normal circumstances, a £50million deal would have been more than fair, but the Reds know that they can’t splash that cash right now.
That may disappoint Werner, who has made noises suggesting he fancies a move. There may will be time for Liverpool to U-turn and resurrect talks, but it doesn’t look like he’ll be signing this summer.
Werner, 24, has smashed 30 goals and 12 assists in 39 games this season. His blistering pace would give Liverpool a new dimension up front, but it seems that Klopp won’t land his man – even with his admiration for him.
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