Liverpool were expected to bring in Timo Werner this summer, but it turns out that he will be joining Chelsea instead.
The RB Leipzig striker has been linked with Liverpool for weeks now, with Jurgen Klopp a known admirer of his fellow German.
Sky Sports have now noted that Chelsea are stepping up to pay Werner’s release clause, which currently stands at around £50million.
That report claims that Klopp did want Werner, but couldn’t promise him regular playing time. Liverpool were still prepared to bring him in and bolster their attack, but then the global pandemic hit.
Liverpool now feel that they are in no position to spend £50million on a player who may not even start regularly for them, due to the level of lost revenue over the last three months.
Werner will now head to Chelsea, and Liverpool will have to hope and pray that he doesn’t match his record of 31 goals and 13 assists this season when he gets to England.
Liverpool fans have been left furious that they have missed out on Werner, but Reds legend Robbie Fowler can’t understand the hysterics.
Fowler has told The Mirror that he is ‘not a big fan’ of Werner, believing that he doesn’t consistently influence games, and doesn’t match up to the likes of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.
Fowler added that Liverpool not playing up for Werner is a sign that he may not be as great as fans think he is, claiming he may not be ‘a Liverpool player’.
“I’ve heard the noise surrounding Timo Werner in recent weeks – but I’m not a big fan,” said Fowler. “I realise he’s a talented player, he has moments of real brilliance in matches that underline his quality. But I stand by this: is Werner up to the standard of Liverpool’s current front three? Not for me.”
“I’ve also seen the meltdown from some Liverpool fans when they realised he’s probably not leaving RB Leipzig for Anfield after all. It makes it seem as though he’s a Marco van Basten, a world-class player who would walk into any side. For the life of me, I don’t know why. I’ve watched him a fair few times and there are things about his game I like and admire. But does he influence games consistently enough? Not for me. Does he match up to the players you are signing him to challenge and replace? Not at Liverpool. Maybe at Chelsea.”
“And that’s the important point I think supporters forget. I’ve heard so many people complaining about Liverpool owners not splashing the cash, not diving in on Werner when he’s a ‘steal’ at £52million. Is he really, though? I’m not saying Werner is a flat-track bully, but I do think there are clearly doubts about him from all the top clubs with all their sophisticated analysis that tells them exactly what a player is worth. If Liverpool value a player as essential, they will pay the premium – as they did for Virgil van Dijk and Alisson. Both were world-record fees in their position at the time. So I stand by my analysis. I’m not sure the fuss is worth it about Werner. I’m not sure he’s a Liverpool player,” he added.
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