Thomas Tuchel is keen on retaining Timo Werner at Chelsea amid growing speculation the German international will depart Stamford Bridge.
According to Kicker, Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is keen to retain the services of Timo Werner amid concerns about the forward’s future at Stamford Bridge. The German international has endured two difficult seasons with the Blues and is being linked with an exit, with plenty of clubs showing an interest in signing him.
Chelsea are edging towards the new season with concerns about the depth of their squad. Tuchel continues to be vocal about the need for reinforcements, particularly after his side’s dismal shift against Arsenal in the US.
The Gunners humbled the Blues, following which Tuchel urged the Chelsea board to oblige his request to sign quality players. Kalidou Koulibaly and Raheem Sterling are the only two high-profile names to arrive at the club in the summer. The manager has concerns over many other positions in his starting eleven.
Incomings aside, many current first-team stars are closer to the exit door. Among those are Cesar Azpilicueta, Marcos Alonso, and Timo Werner, with the latter attracting plenty of interest from elsewhere. Juventus have been keen on signing the German international, who is reportedly considering his future at Stamford Bridge.
RB Leipzig are also keen to re-sign the forward, as Werner has not enjoyed a memorable time under compatriot Tuchel. Despite a good start to their relationship, the manager has been unhappy with the attacker’s overall output. After all, Werner only has 10 goals to his name in 56 Premier League appearances in two full seasons.
With the World Cup on the horizon, the forward wants continuity on the pitch and would consider offers from other clubs, including Leipzig. Newcastle United also briefly showed interest, although it’s understood that Werner might prefer to move away from the Premier League to resurrect his career.
However, Werner’s departure would weaken Chelsea’s squad ahead of the new season after they already allowed Romelu Lukaku to rejoin Inter Milan earlier in this window. Hence, Tuchel is adamant about retaining Werner in his squad with no new signing looking close.
Despite bringing in Sterling, who would directly compete with the German international for a place on the left side of the attack, the manager would like the ex-RB Leipzig ace to stay put.
Werner’s form during pre-season has not been all too impressive, which begs the question as to how regularly he would be used during the upcoming campaign. Sporadic playing time could ruin his chances of featuring for Germany in Qatar, although a transfer could be considered later in the window if Chelsea sign new players.
For now, Werner may remain at Stamford Bridge for the foreseeable future, and Tuchel may be able to count upon him. However, things could change rapidly in football, as a move away from Chelsea certainly remains a possibility for the 26-year-old forward.
