Chelsea flop set for SHOCK Premier League return

Cameron Smith

17 Nov 2023 09:34 GMT
3 min read

Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea — © ProShots

Former Chelsea forward Timo Werner could leave RB Leipzig next year, with the Bundesliga club reportedly open to offloading the Germany international.

Article continues under the video

Werner, 27, returned to Leipzig in 2022 after a disappointing two-year stint at Chelsea, during which time he scored just 10 goals in 56 Premier League games.

He played a role in Chelsea’s triumphant Champions League campaign in 2020-21 and he provided 12 league assists during his first year with the Blues, but Werner was shunted to a rotation role during his final season at Stamford Bridge.

Despite re-joining Leipzig for €20 million last summer, Werner has been unable to rediscover his best form, netting nine Bundesliga goals in 2022-23, and he has lost his place in the starting XI this season.

The summer arrivals of Benjamin Sesko, Lois Openda and Xavi Simons (loan) have pushed the former Chelsea man down the pecking order and he has mustered just 203 league minutes so far this campaign.

With Werner out of favour in Germany, several Premier League teams have registered an interest in signing him, according to 90min.

Fulham, Crystal Palace and West Ham are all keen on landing Werner next year, with the three London clubs keen on providing the forward a second chance in England.

What has been said?

In addition to interest from the Premier League, Leipzig sporting director Rouven Schroder has even suggested the club could be open to offloading Werner next year.

He recently admitted, per 90min: “Timo Werner is a part of a team that has to face competition. He's going through a difficult phase, we support him. It's not always all sunshine and roses.”

When asked whether Werner may leave in January, Schroder replied: “We will have players who have something else in mind. We will face that. Quite openly, very clearly. If someone has the idea that they want to do something different, then we will deal with it.”