Timo Werner: Chelsea’s $138.5 Million Investment In A Better Future

It is not a done deal yet. But everything points towards RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner joining London-based Chelsea at the end of the 2019/20 season. According to a report by Transfermarkt and Bild, the Blues are willing to trigger the €60 million exit-clause in the 24-year-old's contract at RB Leipzig and bearing in mind a last-minute intervention by Liverpool will sign Werner.

The Germany international has long been linked with a move to Liverpool by German media giant Bild. But although Liverpool was interested and had reportedly met with Werner's agent Karlheinz Förster, reports of a done deal were exaggerated. Indeed, the Reds were interested; manager Jürgen Klopp even spoke with Werner via telephone over Easter.

Werner often spoke highly of Klopp and said in public that he could see himself join Liverpool. At the same time, there were two significant obstacles for Liverpool to overcome to make the signing happen. Werner wanted guaranteed playing time, impossible given LFC's squad depth, and a substantial personal financial package.

Those two problems could have maybe been overcome had it not been for COVID-19. The lack of sports has been a significant blow for the Fenway Sports Group, which owns both the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool. FSG's assets are entirely tied up in the sports and entertainment business, which has taken a significant hit during the pandemic.

That meant financial corners had to be cut for Liverpool to make the Werner signing possible. Last week Transfermarkt reported that Leipzig would categorially deny any attempt to sign Werner below the exit-clause. "It won't get any cheaper," RB Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff said in a media report. "We will not sell a player below value if he is under contract for more than a year."

With this in mind, RB Leipzig was hopeful that Werner might perhaps stay in Germany for another season before making the inevitable step abroad. But then Bild reported on Thursday that Werner and his agent Karlheinz Förster were spotted at the Leipzig's offices on Wednesday. The two left the facility after a 20-minute conversation, supposedly informing Leipzig on their intend to finalize a move to London.

At Chelsea, Werner is supposed to become the cornerstone of a young and exciting team. The 24-year-old national team striker has been in fantastic form this season, scoring 31 goals and 12 assists in 40 games.

The financial package is also significant. Werner will earn $220,000 a week at the Blues, which Chelsea can finance thanks to Willian and Pedro leaving the club at the end of the season. Werner's agency will also receive a significant windfall, sources in Germany have indicated that they will earn $15 million from the deal.

With Werner set to earn $57.5 million over the next five years, plus the $15 million in agent fees and $66 million Chelsea have made a significant investment in the region of $140 million. It is a big package, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Roman Abramovich has also promised Frank Lampard significant funds to improve the team this offseason. Werner will be a cornerstone of the new wave of investments that also include new Chelsea signing Hakim Ziyech.

The transfer, however, is not necessarily an indication of mistrust towards talented Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham. Werner and Abraham could, in fact, work well together. At RB Leipzig, Julian Nagelsmann utilized Werner together with a more physical number 9, either Patrik Schick or Yussuf Poulsen. In actual fact, Werner is not necessarily a true number 9.

Watching Werner play highlights that the forward is best used when playing off another player, in a system set up to quickly counter-attack. The forward often hangs on the shoulder of the play, waiting to overwhelm a high defensive line. That could make Werner a perfect signing for Chelsea and a cornerstone of a young and exciting attacking team build by Chelsea legend Lampard.

Manuel Veth is the editor-in-chief of the Futbolgrad Network and the Area Manager USA at Transfermarkt. He has also been published in the Guardian, Newsweek, Howler, Pro Soccer USA, and several other outlets. Follow him on Twitter: @ManuelVeth