Liverpool look set to be rocked with the news that Red Bull Leipzig striker Timo Werner is on his way to Chelsea, according to the Telegraph.
The Reds had been seemingly set to pull off the signing of the talisman, although the Blues now look to hold the aces.
Werner has a release clause in his contract of £52 million (Bild) and Chelsea are apparently about to hand Liverpool an early blow ahead of next season.
Jurgen Klopp’s team has captured the imagination of English football for the last two seasons. Last time out they finished second in the league with 97 points, on their way to lifting their sixth Champions League crown.
This season they are sitting pretty at the summit of the Premier League and just two more victories will see them claim a maiden title.
Last summer Klopp chose to back the players that had been so sensational during 2018/19. Clearly that tactic has worked, given their dominant position in the league table.
Liverpool’s rivals will certainly strengthen in the summer and Klopp must be wary of that ahead of the 2020/21 campaign.
The likes of Manchester City won’t be happy to see their grasp on the Premier League title loosen and Pep Guardiola will want his trophy back next season.
Manchester United have bolstered with Bruno Fernandes and more signings could follow. Hakim Ziyech has already sealed a move to Chelsea and landing Werner as well would make them much stronger.
Liverpool can’t afford to be left behind and a stellar signing or two would certainly enhance their chances of maintaining their dominance at the summit of English football.
Squad depth
Klopp boasts an unbelievable starting eleven but in reserve, they could come unstuck.
When Jordan Henderson picked up an injury earlier this season, Liverpool missed his influence in the midfield engine room.
His absence was sorely felt with Liverpool losing their first league game of the season at Watford and going down 2-0 to Chelsea in the FA Cup.
The likes of Divock Origi, Xherdan Shaqiri and Naby Keita have been found wanting this season, blowing their chances of featuring more frequently in Klopp’s team.
Adam Lallana and Nathaniel Clyne will leave in the summer and although they haven’t featured a great deal, it does put some holes in the Liverpool squad.
The future is bright at Anfield. Midfielder Curtis Jones, defender Neco Williams and trickster Harvey Elliott all look to be stars of the future on Merseyside but the trio will need time.
The trio, and indeed any other young talent Klopp fancies utilising, will need time to develop in the first team and world-class talent is really the immediate requirement.
Some Liverpool supporters will point to the fact that the Reds don’t need Werner, but why wouldn’t they? The hotshot has smashed 92 goals in 154 appearances for Leipzig and is one of the world’s most feared marksmen.
At 24, he has years ahead of him and boasts the attributes to take the Premier League by storm.
Liverpool pulling out of the race for the German could prove to be very foolish, not least as it appears they are about to strengthen a club who would dearly love to wrangle the Premier League title from their grasp next season.
Missing out on players, or rather being over selective on summer targets, shouldn’t become an unwanted trend at Anfield.
With United landing Fernandes and Chelsea seemingly set to sign Werner, the pressure will surely intensify on Liverpool to land an elite signing before next season gets under way.
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