Liverpool are claimed to have “signalled their interest” in RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner, with Bayern Munich’s interest potentially affected by other plans.
Werner has been widely touted as a likely target for the Reds in the summer transfer window, with his contract at Leipzig set to expire in 2020.
The Bundesliga side are eager for the 23-year-old to sign an extension, but seem resigned to the fact they will need to sell at the end of the season to maximise his value.
Bayern were claimed to have already agreed a deal with Werner, though with no agreement with Leipzig this could prove futile.
According to BILD on Wednesday, the champions are now looking to finalise a new contract for Robert Lewandowski, to reassure the Pole that they “continue to rely on him” as first-choice striker.
Though Werner is able to operate out wide he is a natural striker, and has scored 13 goals in 25 games for Leipzig so far this season—all of which came from his role up front.
Arriving as competition for Lewandowski would not be an ideal situation for Werner, who will be looking to establish himself as a key player for Joachim Low’s Germany moving forward.
And BILD suggest Liverpool as an alternative destination, reporting that Jurgen Klopp‘s side have “signalled their interest” in a deal, which could see them vie with their Champions League last-16 opponents.
While Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino are all cemented as first-choice options at Anfield, Werner would arguably have a better chance of breaking into the first team under Klopp.
This is particularly the case if the manager reverts to the 4-2-3-1 formation seen earlier in the season, with Firmino in the No. 10 role behind Werner, and Mane and Salah on either wing.
Interestingly, BILD report that the versatile German would be available for €60 million (£51.5 million), which is similar to the fee paid to Leipzig to secure the signing of Naby Keita.
Both Keita and Mane expressed their desire for Werner to make the move to Merseyside in an interview last month, with the No. 8 describing him as “one of my best mates.”
“It’s clear: should he move, then I’ll ask Timo to join us here at Liverpool,” Keita said, while Mane added that he would “advise him to join Liverpool.”
“I like his style of play. Very forceful, good finish, always giving it 100 percent,” the Senegalese continued.
“If he wants to join us, we’d welcome him to our team.”
It still seems more likely that Werner will opt for Bayern, but there remains hope he could be another big-name signing for Klopp’s Reds.
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