Timo Werner is on the verge of making a move to Tottenham Hotspur on loan from RB Leipzig in January, positioning the North London club to secure the services of the German international ahead of Manchester United.
The 27-year-old forward previously featured in English football with Chelsea, where he spent two years and notched 23 goals in 89 appearances. Despite winning the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup during his time at Chelsea, Werner’s departure led him back to RB Leipzig for a reported £25.3m, signifying a loss for Chelsea compared to the original £47.5m investment in 2020.
Now, Werner seems primed to make a return to English football with a loan stint at Ange Postecoglou’s side. The move seems to be approaching its finalization, as Leipzig boss Marco Rose has acknowledged Werner’s imminent transfer to the North London club from the Bundesliga outfit.
In an interview with Sky Germany, Rose stated, “It’s right that Timo wants to go on loan. Timo would like to go to the European Championship. We wish him all the best and are keeping our fingers crossed for him.”
Spurs have the option to exercise a permanent deal at the end of the season, aiming to address the void left by former captain Harry Kane’s departure to Bayern Munich, alongside James Maddison’s injury and Son Heung-min’s current absence due to the Asia Cup.
While Spurs seek reinforcement in their striking department, they’re not the sole club in need. Manchester United brought in Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta during the summer, but the young Denmark international has faced challenges finding consistent form in the Premier League with the Red Devils.
Erik ten Hag’s side has encountered difficulties in scoring this season, with players like Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, and Antony struggling to find the back of the net.
Though reports indicated United’s interest in Werner, the club ultimately decided against pursuing him. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano disclosed the reason behind this decision, suggesting that United’s uncertainty regarding the type of player they were seeking factored into their choice.
Romano explained to Caught Offside, “It’s a loan, Spurs have a buy option but not mandatory so they can get a look at the player before committing. Timo is super hungry as he believes this is a great opportunity for him. Manchester United also considered Werner as a possibility but then they decided not to proceed, also because it’s not clear yet what kind of player they want.”