According to a recent report by German newspaper Sport Bild, Liverpool are set to miss out on Red Bull Leipzig forward Timo Werner after it was revealed that the striker has agreed on personal terms with the Bavarian giants.
The Bundesliga striker has been heavily linked with a switch to Anfield in the recent past (Liverpool Echo). However, Bild has now claimed that Bayern are on the verge of winning the race to recruit him.
This recent development will be a massive blow for Jurgen Klopp’s chances of landing the player in the summer. Werner has established himself as one of the most prolific goal-getters in the German top-flight over the past couple of seasons. Hence, it makes sense for Bayern to go for a proven quality like the German forward while Liverpool still believes that they can nurture Rhian Brewster into a top goal-scorer in the coming years (yes perhaps a little sarcasm is in order).
Roberto Firmino is still playing at his prime, so it seems like he will be Klopp’s primary striker for the time being. Hence, it is no surprise that a move for Werner to the Merseyside club never materialised as he is far too good to play second fiddle to a player like Firmino. However, at the Allianz Arena, he will likely get a regular starting berth as Bayern look to replace Robert Lewandowski with a much youngster option up top.
Werner boasts electrifying pace which helps him travel with the ball out of tight spaces and wreak havoc inside the opposition penalty box. The German talent also makes many well-timed runs behind the opposition defence which makes him such a mobile option up front. However, what has made him such a highly sought after striker is the fact that he has managed to score so many goals in Germany over the past couple of years.
The former Stuttgart prospect has featured in 25 matches for Leipzig this term, registering 13 goals while providing three assists across multiple competitions. There is no doubt that it will be a bitter blow for Liverpool if Bayern does end up winning the race for Werner.
He would have been another excellent option for Liverpool in the attacking end of the pitch which might have helped them challenge on all fronts next season. Klopp doesn’t have a strong enough squad to fight in all competitions which was evident by Liverpool’s poor record in the League Cup and the FA Cup in recent years. Thus, they would now have to look at some of their other transfer targets if the Reds want to add more competition for Firmino at Anfield.
