The Athletic’s Liverpool correspondent Simon Hughes says that RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner “really wants to move” to Anfield, per The Red Agenda podcast (March 3rd, 51:35).
What’s he said?
Werner has been in electric form for the Bundesliga side this season, scoring 27 goals in all competitions in 34 games, while also registering 11 assists, with Leipzig currently second in the league, three points behind leaders Bayern Munich.
Liverpool have long been linked with a move to sign the striker this summer, with a separate Athletic piece claiming that they have until an unspecified date in April to activate a clause in his contract that allows them to secure his signature for £51m.
And Hughes says he expects there to be a breakthrough in negotiations in the coming weeks, such is his desire to join the Premier League leaders.
He said: “He really wants to move to Liverpool. It looks like the next few weeks might see some movement.
“They’re going to be trying to do things a little quieter. He’s desperate to play for Liverpool.”
Call yourself a Liverpool expert? How much did each of these big-money January signings cost?
An unbelievable signing
Werner would be an incredible purchase for Liverpool.
They have proved in recent years that they are willing to splash the cash, buying Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk for fees in excess of the one it would cost to sign Werner.
It remains to be seen, of course, how he will adapt to the Premier League and if he would instantly slot into the first-team, such has been the form of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, and Mohamed Salah.
But teams can always find room for world-class players and Werner has been exactly that this season; he has scored 21 goals in 24 Bundesliga games with seven assists. That is a staggering 28 goal involvements in 24 games at a rate of 1.1 per game.
Add into that the fact that he is just 23 and has yet to reach his peak and one realises that Liverpool could be signing a striker who can play up front for the next five years or more.
This would be a truly exceptional signing.
Meanwhile, an ex-Liverpool man regrets the failure to sign a rival Premier League ace!