RB Leipzig will re-sign Chelsea striker Werner
0
0
RB Leipzig are expected to complete the signing of Chelsea striker Timo Werner on a permanent deal, two years after he left the club for the Premier League.
Chelsea met the Germany international’s £45m release clause in 2020 but will be at a loss, with Werner set to return on a deal thought to be around £25m.
The 26-year-old was pictured arriving in Leipzig on Monday for a medical.
Werner scored 23 goals in 89 games in all competitions for Chelsea, winning the Champions League in 2021.
He was one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe when the Blues signed him in the summer of 2020, having also attracted interest from Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid.
He scored 95 goals in 159 games in all competitions for Leipzig during his first spell at the club, after arriving from Stuttgart in 2016.
But Werner was unable to replicate that goal-scoring form in the English top flight, scoring just 10 times in two seasons,
However, he played an important role in Chelsea’s run to European success in his first campaign, scoring in the semi-final second leg against Real Madrid.
Chelsea initially held talks with Leipzig over Werner’s return to the loan club, but this has turned into a permanent deal.
During Chelsea’s pre-season tour of the United States, Werner hinted that he could be happy elsewhere, with boss Thomas Tuchel replying: “I would be one of the happiest people on the planet with a Chelsea contract” .
Werner is believed to be one of the most popular players on the training ground and there is recognition at Chelsea that he has put in incredible effort but has not been able to score enough goals.
Despite this, despite the pressure he was under and the criticism he faced, he remained a positive influence at Chelsea and was admired by the club’s fans for his hard work.
Leipzig have also announced the signing of 19-year-old Slovenian striker Benjamin Sesko, who will remain at Red Bull Salzburg until July 2023 on a five-year contract until 2028.
“The club’s philosophy of relying on young players and playing attractive attacking football is perfect for me,” said Sesko.
“The city, the stadium and the entire infrastructure of RB Leipzig, as well as the many good discussions with the club, convinced me that this move is absolutely the right decision.”
