Simply three years in the past, Timo Werner was the rising star of German soccer. With 78 targets in 127 appearances for RB Leipzig, he appeared primed to take the Premier League by storm when Chelsea paid over £47m for him.
Now, Tottenham have struck a cope with Leipzig which might see them signal him completely for simply £15m in the summertime, ought to his half-season mortgage work out.
It is a huge drop-off in valuation however reflective of the difficulties Werner has been via over the previous seasons. At 27, he must be in his prime. As an alternative, he’s at a crossroads in his profession, needing to re-prove his potential – to himself as a lot as all people else.
That big-money swap to Chelsea introduced a Champions League triumph however it wasn’t a profitable transfer for Werner personally. 10 targets in 56 video games was a miserly return from an Anticipated Objectives complete of 18.54 throughout these two seasons. Large possibilities had been missed, offsides had been routine.
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As have a look at Timo Werner’s finest Premier League targets as he nears a mortgage transfer to Tottenham.
He informed Sky Sports activities about how Covid restrictions had left him feeling “a little bit alone” and his type on the pitch did not assist him to settle.
A return to Leipzig in August 2022 was presupposed to reignite the spark however as an alternative an ankle harm earlier than the World Cup in Qatar was one other hammer blow. There have been simply two Bundesliga targets and two begins throughout eight appearances for Leipzig this time period.
Werner will probably be determined for this shock swap to Tottenham to work out. Will he recapture the goal-scoring type of his early seasons at Leipzig? Sky Germany reporter Philipp Hinze, who covers the German membership intently, says whereas there’s optimism of Werner returning to that degree, it will not be straightforward.
“It’s a big question mark behind the name Timo Werner,” he says.
“Before the move to Chelsea, he was a cold-blooded striker. He was really, really tough. One versus one situation with the goalkeeper it was a clear goal. The last two years, it wasn’t.
Timo Werner was a prolific younger participant in his first spell with RB Leipzig however scored simply 10 Premier League targets with Chelsea
“I think he needs two, three or five good moments for him to be on the level again, but it’s not easy. The Premier League, he knows it, but it’s such a tough league. It’s tougher than the Bundesliga. So it’s a long way, but I think it’s possible.
“The nice factor is he is aware of the Premier League from the Chelsea time. He is aware of London so he does not want any time to be tailored to the Premier League or to England. However I believe his degree of self-confidence was very low the previous 12 months.
“The beginning of that was his absence from the World Cup in Qatar and now not a good time in Leipzig. Maybe under Ange Postecoglou, if he can have regular playing time, if he can score a goal maybe in the first game… let’s see.”
Timo Werner vs Tottenham forwards
Heung-Min Son’s worldwide duties on the Asian Cup will give Werner the chance to make a quick begin. However Postecoglou’s function may very well be key.
Hinze says the Tottenham boss has already had an affect on Werner, following a cellphone dialog between the pair. And Werner is a participant who must really feel trusted once more after falling down the pecking order at RB Leipzig.
Leipzig’s record-signing Lois Openda, Yussuf Poulsen and Benjamin Sesko have all been most well-liked to Werner, regardless of the latter being one of many prime earners together with Dani Olmo.
“The talks between Tottenham and Werner, especially with Ange, gave him already more self-confidence and he’s really thrilled [for] the transfer,” says Hinze. “It’s not like the mood that he comes to Tottenham now [is] with the head down. He’s looking forward.
“It is his final likelihood to be on the Euros [squad], so he must be a great participant within the second a part of the season.”
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Paul Merson praises Timo Werner’s tempo in assault, particularly compared to fellow Soccer Saturday panellist Clinton Morrison.
Werner’s Euros hope is bolstered by the very fact Julian Nagelsmann is Germany boss, the person who coached him first time spherical at Leipzig.
“Nagelsmann knows how good he can be, how cold he can be, how fast he can be, how good he can be during counter-attacks,” says Hinze. “However in fact, the Germany squad have actually good attackers. Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sane, Kai Havertz… They’re guys with good type, a great temper.
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With Timo Werner linked with a shock transfer again to the Premier League with Tottenham in January, try his 5 finest targets with RB Leipzig throughout his time within the Bundesliga.
“The Germany fans know how good Werner can be as well, but they also know that his form was really, really bad and his self-confidence was bad.”
Postecoglou clearly sees the potential, too. Whether or not Werner can choose himself as much as be the participant he as soon as promised to be seems to be set to be an intriguing storyline within the second half of this Premier League season.
