da bet sport： This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…
da leao： While speaking on The Transfer Window podcast, Ian McGarry confirmed that Liverpool have opened formal negotiations with RB Leipzig over the transfer of Timo Werner.
What’s the word?
The Reds are believed to be long-term admirers of the German striker and recent murmurs indicate that they are elevating that interest into something more concrete.
It will likely take a significant bid to tempt RB Leipzig into selling. After all, his goal return of 21, 13 and 16 in the previous three Bundesliga seasons mean he is crucial to their ambitions of qualifying for the Champions League.
But he may not be at the club much longer if reports are to be believed.
While speaking on the Transfer Window podcast, McGarry had this to say about Werner [01:21]:
“What we can tell you is that Liverpool have begun the process of formal negotiations with RB Leipzig for the player’s transfer.
“We understand that contact has been made and is indeed ongoing between Liverpool and the German Bundesliga side, and that Werner himself is a keen for a move to Anfield.”
Werner’s side are currently sixth in the Bundesliga and just four points of Borussia Monchengladbach in first, and considering the Germany international has a Transfermarkt valuation of £58.5m, he’s unlikely to come cheap.
Perfect for Klopp
Much of the Reds’ joy going forward is based on the speed of the front-three, with Sadio Mane and Mo Salah working brilliantly off Firmino to get in behind the defence to score goals.
Werner fits that mould, and frequently uses his pace to his advantage, either to get in front of defenders or to run at them, and therefore he provides an effective alternative to Firmino, who prefers to sit deep and let his teammates play off him, with his assist for Salah’s goal against Newcastle a perfect example of that.
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Playing alongside Yussuf Poulsen at RB Leipzig means he knows how to operate alongside a target-man type striker, and that means he would also be well-suited to playing with the Brazilian, so his arrival would enhance Klopp’s options and versatility in attack.
His form in Germany has induced endorsements lauding him as an “unstoppable” talent, and given the variety of ways in which he scores – including from headers, free kicks, and solo runs – he could be that fresh injection of spark Klopp needs to topple Manchester City.
In recent matches Liverpool have struggled somewhat to break teams down, with both Manchester United and Sheffield United reducing them to four shots on target, but with a player of Werner’s ability and movement in the box, it gives them another option to get on the end of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s frequent key passes.
As a result, he would likely be worth the outlay spent on him, and if he can take the burden off the front-three in a more effective way than Divock Origi does, he will be another successful Klopp signing.