It’s never too early to start bantering about the major players who could be on the move this upcoming summer transfer window, and Timo Werner will definitely be one of those, should he hit the open market. The German striker will be entering the final year of his deal at RB Leipzig, and the Bundesliga side could be looking to make sure they get some kind of financial restitution; lest they risk losing him the next summer on a free.
Where could Werner land this summer? Well, in 2017, while being targeted by Liverpool, he did speak of his desire “to play at a big club.” However, last year he dropped a hint that he would choose Manchester United over their arch-rivals at Anfield, if given the chance.
It remains to see whether or not United is really interested, as he doesn’t exactly fit a position of need right now. United needs to get more return on the investment they made in attacking players, not buy new ones. As for Liverpool, their attacking third is locked and loaded as well, but at least two Reds would be all about Timo Werner transferring over.
That includes Werner’s former teammate, midfielder Naby Keita, who moved up to northwest England this past summer (with a deal having been agreed upon the previous summer).
“We played really well together at Leipzig,” said Keita in an interview with Bild, Germany’s paper of record.
“And he was one of my best mates. It’s clear: Should he move, then I ask Timo to join us here at Liverpool.”
Sadio Mane would be all about it too.
“I’d advise him to join Liverpool. I like his style of play,” the winger said.
“Very forceful, good finish, always giving it 100 percent. If he wants to join us, we’d welcome him to our team. When it was clear that Naby would join us, I often watched Leipzig matches. But to be honest: It was dreadful for me at the start. Naby saw quite a few red cards.”
“I then asked Kevin Kampl, my friend from our time at RB Salzburg, why Naby always got sent off. He didn’t know. Naby missed some important games and I could watch other players more closely. And Timo stood out.”
One of the clubs being linked to Werner is Bayern Munich, who Liverpool will face in UEFA Champions League knockout round competition in six days time. Currently, the Reds are on a warm weather training trip in southern Spain, and the Bayern clash will be their very next game.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.