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For a few years now, Timo Werner has been one of the most exciting strikers to watch in world football. The German, who has already racked up a stunning 21 goals and 9 assists in 23 league games in the 2019-20 season, has been heavily linked with a transfer away from RB Leipzig for more than a year.
Europe's elite showing interest in securing the former VfB Stuttgart man is hardly a surprise, given the magnificent talent that he possesses. Werner is an incredibly quick runner and has already tormented defences with his blistering pace, with Mainz 05 being the latest club to face his wrath. The German international was involved in a whopping 6 out of 8 goals that Leipzig scored against Jurgen Klopp's former club, scoring 3 himself and setting up a further 3.
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Werner turned 23 in March earlier this year and is yet to hit the peak of his physical power. If this is what he's capable of at this age, it's frightening to think of how much better the Leipzig man can get.
But, with Leipzig sporting director Markus Krosche recently confirming that the club have indeed made an offer for RB Salzburg sensation Erling Haaland, it looks increasingly likely that Werner will leave the German giants in the near future. Having said that, let's take a look at 3 potential (and ideal) destinations for the 23-year-old.
#3 Chelsea
Frank Lampard's Chelsea have been on transfer headlines all over Europe off late after their transfer ban was cut short. The London side didn't (or rather, couldn't) sign anyone in the summer, although they already had Christian Pulisic coming in after a deal was struck last January. Mateo Kovacic was a mere casualty for Real Madrid as far as they were concerned as they sent the Croatian to Stamford Bridge when Thibaut Courtois chose to move the other way.
Chelsea re-entering the transfer market perfectly coincides with their progression to the Round of 16 of the Champions League, where they face German champions Bayern Munich in what is a repeat of the 2012 Champions League final in Munich. With Manchester United's upturn of form and Jose Mourinho's arrival sparking a Tottenham Hotspur revival, Chelsea's path to a top-four finish just got a whole lot harder.
Tammy Abraham has had a dream run so far under Lampard with 13 goals and 5 assists across 24 games in all competitions. In retrospect, though, the Englishman is perhaps the only consistent goalscorer that Chelsea possess. Michy Batshuayi has been a talented marksman in the box for a while now but has been struck by injuries, bad luck or both on a number of occasions now. Olivier Giroud is most likely to seek regular football as well.
Considering all these factors, Timo Werner's name being on Chelsea's radar makes all the sense in the world. The German can be a part of an exciting project led by club legend Lampard and can hope to find regular Champions League football at the Bridge as well.
Werner's energy in and around the box could compliment Abraham's predatory instincts and the Englishman could learn from the German, who has over 200 senior league games under his belt. The 23-year-old could also provide Chelsea with a more direct attacking route, with masterful long passers such as Jorginho and Kovacic playing behind him. Werner could be the genuine goalscoring threat that the Blues lack and should Lampard chose to play a two-striker setup, he and Abraham could form a great partnership.
Additionally, having already been a part of a few high-pressing and possession-based setups at RB Leipzig, he could potentially take to Lampard's philosophy like a duck to water.
Chelsea is certainly an attractive option for Werner.
Also check out: Bundesliga schedule UCL schedule EPL fixtures
#2 Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid has been home to some of the finest strikers of this generation. The likes of Sergio Kun Aguero, Fernando Torres, Falcao, Antoine Griezmann and many more have plied their trade with Los Rojiblancos and have gone on to excel wherever they chose to move to next. Now, with a strike force that is currently lacking a cutting-edge centre-forward, the Atleti are falling short in the final third and are severely lacking goals.
Diego Simeone's side have scored a pitiful 18 goals in 17 LaLiga Santander fixtures this season, with Alvaro Morata being the top scorer for his 6 goals in 14 matches. New signing Joao Felix has been pleasing to watch operating in the Griezmann role but has faced injury concerns and is yet to find his goalscoring touch wearing Atleti's shirt. Diego Costa's powers seem to be waning with every passing game and has just 2 goals to show for.
With Thomas Lemar being reportedly moved on after failing to kick on since his move from AS Monaco, Atletico Madrid are certain to seek attacking reinforcements come winter or summer at the latest. As it happens to be the case, Timo Werner could be the man to help them.
The German would benefit from this move for two very straight forward reasons. One of them is that Simeone's counter-attacking philosophy could work perfectly with Werner, who is a hard man to catch up with once he hits top speed. The other reason is that the German has, at least over the last two or three seasons, played with another striker at the top of the line. Most recently it's been Yussuf Poulsen, and at Atleti, he could have the prodigious Joao Felix to work with.
The only major question, though, pertains to Diego Simeone. The Argentine has seen a host of attack-minded players signed under his regime that failed to kick on including the likes of Gelson Martins, Yannick Carrasco, Kevin Gameiro and more. Werner is almost certain to be a bonafide superstar, but whether Simeone's mentorship helps him or hampers him in this regard will remain to be seen.
Should Werner move to the Wanda Metropolitano come winter, the upcoming Champions League tie against Liverpool will be more interesting than ever for the neutral.
#1 Manchester United
RB Leipzig confirming that they have made an official approach for Erling Haaland could massively impact Manchester United's plans in the transfer market, considering that they too are reportedly keen on landing the 19-year-old. United failed to replace the outgoing Romelu Lukaku in the summer and are now relatively light on attacking options.
Should Ole Gunnar Solskjaer fail to convince his fellow Norwegian to join him in Manchester, he should look no further than Haaland's potential predecessor in Leipzig in his search for a new centre-forward. Werner ticks a lot of boxes in terms of the profile of players that Solskjaer is reportedly keeping tabs on.
Leipzig's #11 has all the tools to fit into the Norwegian's philosophy at Old Trafford and he could be a defining addition to the squad. A majority of United's problems this season have come against clubs who defend in deep blocks. United's sheer inability to unlock such rigid defences has already begun haunting them and they've taken more points off the top half of the table than the bottom half, which is quite amusing.
With Anthony Martial being in and out of the side mostly due to injuries, United have made it clear that they will look to bring in attacking reinforcements either in January or the summer. Werner's blistering pace will fit in perfectly with the counter-attacking style of play that Solskjaer is attempting to instil at the club. But Martial and Marcus Rashford aside, United lack genuine goalscorers.
A willing runner by nature, Werner could torment defences by running in between the channels and dovetailing with the lightning-fast Rashford and form a lethal partnership. With the likes of Daniel James and Martial, United could have a fluid and devastating attacking quartet which can blaze opposition defences. Werner could also help break deep blocks by occupying defenders and creating spaces for either Rashford or Martial to exploit.
The only factor of his game that German would potentially have to work upon should a move materialize is his link-up play, but all in all, Werner would be a phenomenal addition to the current Manchester United side. The 23-year-old has been linked with a move to United before, but only time will tell if Solskjaer reignites his interest in Werner.
