Premier League Rumors: Chelsea Crashes Timo Werner Party With Dembele Slipping

Chelsea F.C. is joining the race for Timo Werner if Moussa Dembele is unavailable. The Blues now crowd Liverpool and Manchester United, two teams who have been aggressively pursuing the German striker. The Reds were seen as the club likely to land Werner before the COVID-19 pandemic entered the picture. Now, Jurgen Klopp and the company are reluctant to activate the $61 million release clause with most teams taking a financial hit due to the coronavirus.

However, the chances of landing Werner is still possible if Liverpool can find a way to negotiate a lower deal for the 24-year-old football player. This could end up in a pricing war with United and Chelsea now in the fray. RB Leipzig could opt to deal with Werner to the team with the best offer heading into the next transfer window.

The Blues are targeting Werner as an alternative to Dembele, ESPN reported. Chelsea came close to acquiring the French football player last January but Olympic Lyonnais were asking for a hefty $100 million to release the 23-year-old striker. Unless the Lyons are willing to soften that stance, the chances of getting Dembele to play at Stamford Bridge are not looking that good.

Frank Lampard may pitch playing time as a reason why Werner should move to Stamford Bridge. It is an issue that critics have been pointing out if the German would land in Liverpool. The Reds have a loaded offensive line that includes players like Sadio Mane, Mohammed Salah and Robert Firminho. But as mentioned in a previous post, adding Werner could be accommodated if Klopp chances his offensive formation.

The Red Devils could also give Werner good exposure if he opts to move to Old Trafford. A player linked to United is Jadon Sancho but successfully doing so will depend if they can meet the hefty fee for the 20-year-old German. The fee needed to get Werner is roughly $61 million while Sancho would cost them $150 million.

Lampard has multiple targets in mind but is looking for a cost-friendly option. With Dembele and Sancho requiring hefty sums to acquire, focusing on Werner makes sense. But right now, they have to contend with other teams in pursuit of the German striker in what may turn out to be a heated bidding war.