Arsenal are among the host of Premier League clubs who are interested in signing RB Leipzig’s forward, Timo Werner. It has been reported that Arsene Wenger has already dispatched his scouts to monitor the 21-year-old’s game earlier in the week. Werner matched expectations by hitting a brace against Napoli and helped his side win 1-3 in the UEFA Europa League Round of 32 stage.
The Stuttgart-born attacker has not been short of brilliance ever since his arrival to the Red Bull Arena in June 2016. He has netted the ball 37 times in 61 all around appearances for the Bulls, 16 of those goals have come this season.
Leipzig wanted to fend off European interests by rewarding the player with a new long-term contract but Werner has declined their offer. He will be performing his duties under the current deal which is set to last until the summer of 2020.
Werner is one of the hottest talents in European football right now and has been pegged to be the next generational talent to follow in the footsteps of Miroslav Klose and Thomas Mueller.
He will be upholding that promise by showcasing his talent on the world stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup this June. It would be in the best interests of Wenger to sign him up ahead of the tournament in order to escape the meteoric price hike.
Werner is already a versatile presence who can appear on almost any position on the final third, be it from either of the flanks or as a lone striker. His keen eye for goal at such a young age along with a turn of pace which is next to none makes him one of the most lethal threats in the Bundesliga.
Bringing him in is expected to cost a significant amount but which club would let up on an opportunity to sign a proven youngster who you can build your future around? Arsenal clearly has picked up on the scent as they prepare to put in a favourable bid to convince the Bundesliga outfit.
However is Arsenal the right club for Werner? They just signed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund for £60m. Wenger also has Alexandre Lacazette as the number nine option who arrived last summer for £52m. With Danny Welbeck as a rotational option, the striker role is well covered and Werner might just be a surplus to requirements until and unless someone makes an exit.
The 21-year-old’s adaptability can be utilised from the flanks but he is still better suited centrally and it is highly unlikely that Wenger will either sell either of the big money names or banish them to the benches. If the Frenchman is serious about the prospects of signing the German international he has to consider the players that he already has at hand, not to mention the ongoing problem at the other end of the pitch.
