Chelsea transfer target Timo Werner has been warned against joining Premier League rivals Liverpool.
According to Germany legend, Lothar Matthaus, who believes Werner will warm the bench at Anfield if he makes the move to Liverpool. Chelsea are keen on signing the forward who has scored 27 times in 36 appearances in all competitions this season.
The Germany international is under contract until 2023 but has a buyout clause of €60 million (£53m/$65m). “I think Timo is a Liverpool player in mentality and style,” the Germany legend told reporters.
“He is a very fast and strong player. He is direct and doesn’t like to just hold onto the ball. Jurgen Klopp likes fast players in attack and Werner has pace, but he has to play.
“At Leipzig, Timo has his position. He is a fixed player in the system of Julian Nagelsmann. But Liverpool are one of the best clubs in the world. They are strong not only in the Premier League but the Champions League as well.
“They have a lot of players who are very good. Sure, Werner could fit in at Liverpool but he likes to play the big games and he would have to get someone out of the team. I am talking about Mane, Salah or Firmino. “I think when all these players are fit to play, then Werner would sit on the bench, which is not good, as he is a player who loves to play all the time.
“So, maybe it would be better to have another year at Leipzig. This season, for example, he has improved a lot, and not only in terms of the number of goals he has scored, but how he is playing overall.
“He can be a Liverpool player in the future but he would be unhappy if he has to sit out big games on the bench. “For this reason, if I were his manager, I would tell him to spend another year at Leipzig and to get ready for playing for the German national team at the European Championship in 2021.
“I am sure he will not finish his career at RB Leipzig and that he will soon play in the Premier League. But I just hope it is not next season.” Instead of another season at RB Leipzig as Matthaus suggested, a move to Chelsea will make perfect sense for Werner.