Reports claiming that Manchester United could sign former Chelsea striker Timo Werner from RB Leipzig in the winter transfer window have one former Premier League frontman wondering if this is a ‘wind up.
According to The Athletic, the Red Devils have made ‘contact’ over Timo Werner. The Germany international who was forced out of Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2022 after a hugely disappointing return of 10 goals in 56 Premier League games.
And Dean Saunders, the one-time Liverpool and Aston Villa marksman, is frantically checking his calendar, wondering if April Fool’s Day has arrived three months early.
Manchester United have spent much of the Erik ten Hag era squandering opportunities in the final third. Bruno Fernandes, it should be noted, has created 171 goalscoring chances since the start of last season but has only 11 assists to his name.
But is Werner really the man to make better use of Bruno’s defence-splitting talents? It’s fair to say he is unlikely to have been the striker on the top of most Man United supporters’ Christmas lists.
Timo Werner a Manchester United target
“Man United? That is a wind up, surely,” an exasperated Saunders tells talkSPORT (2 January, 9.30am).
“They are going to sign Timo Werner? He had a knack of missing chances, which isn’t a very good thing to have as a striker.
“His movement his excellent. Quick. But he had a knack of missing every time he got in on goal.
“If you sign a forward, goals and assists are what you are there for. He doesn’t make many (goals) and he doesn’t score many. And you are going to have to pay him a fortune.”
Just 10 Premier League goals for Chelsea
Another January, another short-term quick fix beckoning for Manchester United. With that INEOS takeover arriving too late for Premier League ratification, The Athletic reports that a Red Devils side impeded by Financial Fair Play concerns may be forced to turn to 30-somethings Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting or Thomas Muller. Even Serhou Guirassy is likely to be too expensive at £15 million.
Werner, meanwhile, could be available on loan after losing his place in the RB Leipzig XI to the outstanding Lois Openda.
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