Timo Werner has joined Tottenham on mortgage till finish of season; Spurs then have choice to purchase ahead for £15m; Germany worldwide gained Champions League at Chelsea however struggled for objectives and has been hit by damage since returning to RB Leipzig with Euros spot doubtful

Just three years in the past, Timo Werner was the rising star of German soccer. With 78 objectives in 127 appearances for RB Leipzig, he appeared primed to take the Premier League by storm when Chelsea paid over £47m for him.

Now, Tottenham have struck a cope with Leipzig which may see them signal him completely for simply £15m in the summertime, ought to his half-season mortgage work out.

It’s a giant drop-off in valuation however reflective of the difficulties Werner has been by way of over the previous seasons. At 27, he must be in his prime. Instead, he’s at a crossroads in his profession, needing to re-prove his potential – to himself as a lot as everyone else.

That big-money change to Chelsea introduced a Champions League triumph however it wasn’t a profitable transfer for Werner personally. 10 objectives in 56 video games was a miserly return from an Expected Goals whole of 18.54 throughout these two seasons. Big probabilities had been missed, offsides had been routine.

He informed Sky Sports about how Covid restrictions had left him feeling “a little bit alone” and his kind on the pitch did not assist him to settle.

A return to Leipzig in August 2022 was imagined to reignite the spark however as an alternative an ankle damage earlier than the World Cup in Qatar was one other hammer blow. There have been simply two Bundesliga objectives and two begins throughout eight appearances for Leipzig this time period.

Werner might be determined for this shock change to Tottenham to work out. Will he recapture the goal-scoring type of his early seasons at Leipzig? Sky Germany reporter Philipp Hinze, who covers the German membership carefully, says whereas there may be optimism of Werner returning to that stage, it will not be simple.

“It’s a big question mark behind the name Timo Werner,” he says.

“Before the move to Chelsea, he was a cold-blooded striker. He was really, really tough. One versus one situation with the goalkeeper, it was a clear goal. The last two years, it wasn’t.

“I think he needs two, three or five good moments for him to be on the level again, but it’s not easy. The Premier League, he knows it, but it’s such a tough league. It’s tougher than the Bundesliga. So it’s a long way, but I think it’s possible.

“The good factor is he is aware of the Premier League from the Chelsea time. He is aware of London so he does not want any time to be tailored to the Premier League or to England. But I feel his stage of self-confidence was very low the previous 12 months.

“The beginning of that was his absence from the World Cup in Qatar and now not a good time in Leipzig. Maybe under Ange Postecoglou, if he can have regular playing time, if he can score a goal maybe in the first game… let’s see.”

Heung-Min Son’s worldwide duties on the Asian Cup will give Werner the chance to make a quick begin. But Postecoglou’s position could possibly be key.

Hinze says the Tottenham boss has already had an affect on Werner, following a telephone dialog between the pair. And Werner is a participant who must really feel trusted once more after falling down the pecking order at RB Leipzig.

Leipzig’s record-signing Lois Openda, Yussuf Poulsen and Benjamin Sesko have all been most well-liked to Werner, regardless of the latter being one of many prime earners together with Dani Olmo.

“The talks between Tottenham and Werner, especially with Ange, gave him already more self-confidence and he’s really thrilled [for] the transfer,” says Hinze. “It’s not like the mood that he comes to Tottenham now [is] with the head down. He’s looking forward.

“It’s his final probability to be on the Euros [squad], so he must be an excellent participant within the second a part of the season.”

Werner’s Euros hope is bolstered by the very fact Julian Nagelsmann is Germany boss, the person who coached him first time spherical at Leipzig.

“Nagelsmann knows how good he can be, how cold he can be, how fast he can be, how good he can be during counter-attacks,” says Hinze. “But of course, the Germany squad have really good attackers. Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sane, Kai Havertz… They are guys with good form, a good mood.

“The Germany fans know how good Werner can be as well, but they also know that his form was really, really bad and his self-confidence was bad.”

Postecoglou clearly sees the potential, too. Whether Werner can decide himself as much as be the participant he as soon as promised to be seems set to be an intriguing storyline within the second half of this Premier League season.

Follow the January switch window with Sky Sports

The winter switch window is now open and can shut at 11pm in England and midnight in Scotland on Thursday 1 February, 2024.

To guarantee harmonisation with the main leagues in Europe, the cut-off dates had been set following discussions with the EFL, DFL, Serie A, LaLiga, and LFP, who will all shut their summer time and winter home windows on 1 September and 1 February respectively.

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