Chelsea are close to completing a deal for RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner.
Bild broke the news yesterday that the London club have agreed to pay his €60 million release clause.
He is expected to sign a five-year deal at Stamford Bridge and he will earn £9 million per year, according to Goal.
It seemed certain that he would sign for Liverpool this summer, but the club’s owners deemed him too expensive.
Chelsea have taken this opportunity to swoop in and convince the player to move to London.
The Athletic report that Werner had planned to sign for Liverpool, but his Plan B was to stay at Leipzig for another year.
Despite the player wanting Liverpool, and Jurgen Klopp wanting the player, the current pandemic meant that Liverpool were not willing to pay his release clause.
Frank Lampard is believed to have called the striker and convinced him that Chelsea was the right place for him to continue his career.
The club moved fast to trigger his release clause, which expires on June 15.
So, pending completion of all the final details, the player will move to west London when the transfer window opens.
A transfer coup
There is no doubt that Timo Werner is a fantastic addition for Chelsea.
Having been struck with a transfer ban last summer, the club have made up for their lack of activity.
They have already signed Hakim Ziyech from Ajax. They also look set to move for a left-back this summer.
Werner is the most exciting of the lot.
The 24-year-old has scored 25 goals in 29 Bundesliga appearances this season. This is one of the best records in Europe.
He is comfortable anywhere across the frontline. He predominantly plays as a number 9, but has also played on the left-wing.
With Willian and Pedro set to leave, Chelsea were in need of forward players.
In Werner and Ziyech, they have not only replaced the pair, but vastly improved on them.
Ziyech is comfortable in the number 10 role and off either wing.
His and Werner’s versatility opens up a world of options for Frank Lampard.
A front four of Christian Pulisic on the right, Werner on the left and Ziyech behind Tammy Abraham is a simply tantalizing prospect.
While not for certain, Chelsea look like they will secure a top-four finish once the season resumes.
There appears to be a bright future at Stamford Bridge.
