As the COVID-19 crisis continues to ravage the world, many questions haunt the lives of football fans, however, Timo Werner seems to be on the lips of many going into the next summer of transfers.
Rated by many as a necessary successor to Liverpool’s formidable triumvirate of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané and Roberto Firmino, the 24-year-old Leipzig product is a dynamic forward capable of playing both on the left and through the middle.
It is this versatility which has enticed fans to support a transfer of the German forward. It is this which makes Werner is the focal point of Julian Nagelsmann’s high-intensity Leipzig outfit.
A young and innovative manager, Nagelsmann revolves his systems around versatility and gegenpressing, tasking the likes of Werner to shift from a central striking position to a position on the wing during games.
This versatility is something which would certainly excite Jürgen Klopp.
Rated in excess of £50m, Werner will not come cheap to any potential suitors, however.
In the current volatile transfer market, it begs the question, will anybody be able to afford this investment?
Certainly, Liverpool will have to reconsider their transfer budget amidst the Coronavirus crisis. Whether this will affect any pursuit of Werner remains to be seen, but I can almost guarantee that sporting director Michael Edwards will be looking to get the best deal possible for the Merseyside outfit.
In recent years, we’ve seen Liverpool’s rigorous approach to transfers with their failed pursuit of former Olympique Lyon midfielder Nabil Fekir immediately springing to mind.
Believed to be a replacement for Bayern Munich playmaker Philippe Coutinho, Fekir’s Liverpool deal was called off in the dying hours of the transfer.
It is rumoured that Liverpool wished to lower the asking price of the Frenchman after finding a rich history of knee issues.
This approach to transfer dealings has seen Liverpool receive some brilliant deals in the past including Roberto Firmino for just £29m and 2017/18 PFA Player of the Year winner Mohamed Salah for just £34m.
However, it is difficult to envisage a scenario where such transfer dealings will prove efficient with Timo Werner.
Given the economic struggles that COVID-19 is enforcing on football clubs, Liverpool may have to postpone their pursuit of Werner or perhaps look to lower Leipzig’s asking price of the star forward.
In any case, it shall certainly be interesting to see how the next summer of transfers pans out amongst this crisis!
