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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 take care of Leipzig which may see them signal him completely for simply £15m in the summertime, ought to his half-season mortgage work out.
It is a large drop-off in valuation however reflective of the difficulties Werner has been by over the previous seasons. At 27, he must be in his prime. As a substitute, he’s at a crossroads in his profession, needing to re-prove his potential – to himself as a lot as everyone else.
That big-money change 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 Targets whole of 18.54 throughout these two seasons. Massive possibilities had been missed, offsides had been routine.
He advised 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 imagined to reignite the spark however as an alternative an ankle damage 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 can be determined for this shock change 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 carefully, says whereas there may be optimism of Werner returning to that degree, it will not be simple.
“It is a large query mark behind the identify Timo Werner,” he says.
“Earlier than the transfer to Chelsea, he was a cold-blooded striker. He was actually, actually powerful. One versus one scenario with the goalkeeper, it was a transparent purpose. The final two years, it wasn’t.
“I feel he wants two, three or 5 good moments for him to be on the extent once more, however it’s not simple. The Premier League, he is aware of it, however it’s such a troublesome league. It is harder than the Bundesliga. So it is a good distance, however I feel it is potential.
“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 feel his degree of self-confidence was very low the previous yr.
“The start of that was his absence from the World Cup in Qatar and no longer time in Leipzig. Perhaps beneath Ange Postecoglou, if he can have common enjoying time, if he can rating a purpose perhaps within the first sport… let’s have a look at.”
Heung-Min Son’s worldwide duties on the Asian Cup will give Werner the chance to make a quick begin. However Postecoglou’s position could possibly be key.
Hinze says the Tottenham boss has already had an impression on Werner, following a telephone 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 high earners together with Dani Olmo.
“The talks between Tottenham and Werner, particularly with Ange, gave him already extra self-confidence and he is actually thrilled [for] the switch,” says Hinze. “It is not just like the temper that he involves Tottenham now [is] with the top down. He is trying ahead.
“It is his final likelihood to be on the Euros [squad], so he needs to be participant within the second a part of the season.”
Werner’s Euros hope is bolstered by the actual fact Julian Nagelsmann is Germany boss, the person who coached him first time spherical at Leipzig.
“Nagelsmann is aware of how good he might be, how chilly he might be, how briskly he might be, how good he might be throughout 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, temper.
“The Germany followers understand how good Werner might be as nicely, however in addition they know that his type was actually, actually unhealthy and his self-confidence was unhealthy.”
Postecoglou clearly sees the potential, too. Whether or not Werner can decide himself as much as be the participant he as soon as promised to be seems set to be an intriguing storyline within the second half of this Premier League season.
Comply with the January switch window with Sky Sports activities
The winter switch window is now open and can shut at 11pm in England and midnight in Scotland on Thursday 1 February, 2024.
To make sure harmonisation with the foremost leagues in Europe, the cut-off dates had been set following discussions with the EFL, DFL, Serie A, LaLiga, and LFP, who will all shut their summer season and winter home windows on 1 September and 1 February respectively.
Maintain updated with all the most recent switch information and rumours in our devoted Transfer Centre blog on Sky Sports activities’ digital platforms, whereas you can too meet up with the ins, outs and evaluation on Sky Sports activities Information, together with each day switch exhibits, and hearken to our Transfer Talk podcast.
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