West Ham United make approach to sign Timo Werner as Premier League transfer twist emerges
West Ham are readying a January move to sign RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner, according to The Mirror.
The newspaper reported via their print edition on Thursday (23 November, page 56) that the Irons – as well as Fulham and Crystal Palace – are weighing up moves to sign the former Chelsea flop in the January transfer window with RB Leipzig willing to listen to offers for the out-of-favour 27-year-old.
It is understood that Werner is open to a return to the Premier League in order to play regularly and keep his spot in the Germany squad ahead of the European Championships next summer.
The Mirror adds that West Ham have approached RB Leipzig with an enquiry about the Stuttgart-born ace.
Surprise transfer twist
Werner’s spell at Chelsea was a fairly horrific one.
After arriving at Stamford Bridge for £47.5million in 2020, Werner went on to score just 23 goals in 89 appearances in all competitions with only 10 goals coming in 56 Premier League appearances.
Chelsea eventually sold Werner back to Leipzig for £25.3million in August 2022 and it has been a mixed return to eastern Germany for the forward.
Last season, he did well. He scored 16 goals and supplied six assists in 40 total appearances as Leipzig qualified for the Champions League and won the German Cup.
However, this term, Werner has struggled to earn regular starts and has netted just twice in 13 appearances, of which only two of them have been in the starting line-up in the Bundesliga.
Werner’s career is lagging – again – and with Germany hosting the Euros next summer, he won’t want to take any chances about being in the squad.
West Ham do need to sign a new forward but would signing Werner be a risk?
Sure, he struggled at Chelsea and he’s starting to drop down the pecking order at RB Leipzig. But maybe Chelsea was a step too far for him and he’ll thrive better at the London Stadium.
He cannot be worse than an ageing Michail Antonio, at least.
In other West Ham news, a finance expert has reacted as a “mega-money” deal is on the cards for the Hammers.