Real Madrid is targeting Timo Werner.
“Real Madrid have reportedly identified RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner as a potential January transfer target,” sports outlet Sportsmall reported on Tuesday (KST).
Werner is a classic poacher-style striker who uses his quick feet to get into the back spaces, especially on the counter-attack, which makes him a perfect fit for Neymar’s system. He also runs a lot and presses hard, often forcing his opponents into mistakes.
After joining Leipzig from Stuttgart in 2016, he led the team’s attack alongside Emile Forsberg and finished fourth in scoring with 21 goals and five assists in 32 games and was a key part of Leipzig’s surge.
The 2019/20 season, in particular, saw him in full form. Under Nagelsmann, he scored 34 goals and 13 assists in 45 games and finished second in the league with 28 goals, although Lewandowski scored 34, as Nagelsmann’s tactics tailored to Werner limited him to scoring only counter-attacking goals.
He moved to Chelsea for the 2020/21 season and won the Champions League with Thomas Tuchel, but he failed to win the trust of Chelsea fans by showing every flaw he could, and his total of 23 goals and 21 assists in 89 games for the Blues fell far short of his Leipzig days.
He returned to Leipzig in 2022 and looked to be in good form at the start of the season, but suffered ankle ligament damage against Shakhtar in the Champions League and missed the World Cup. This season, Leipzig will be without him. His place in the side has gradually dwindled as the club has brought in quality strikers such as Benjamin Cescu.
Criticism of him came from the start of the season. After scoring two goals in eight games this season, German outlet Bild wrote in September, “Timo Werner has been reduced to a fourth option for Leipzig. He has already lost his starting position, which he had established with Leipzig over the past few years, and German national team coach Hansi Flick hasn’t called him up.” 카지노사이트
Leipzig acknowledged that Werner was struggling and said they were supporting the striker. However, Leipzig said they would listen to offers if Werner made it clear he wanted to leave the club.
Now, Real Madrid are targeting him. According to the media, Real are thinking of entering the race to sign Werner in order to bolster their attacking options. Real officials are now ready to enter the loan market to land Werner, and there are scenarios that could see them sign him.
RB Leipzig would prefer an outright transfer if possible, but a loan to Real could be considered if a deal works out for both club and player.
With Real expected to spend big to bring in a new striker ahead of the 2024/25 season, it remains to be seen what the approach will be and whether it will be a loan deal with no option to buy.