Tottenham Close to Loan Signing RB Leipzig Forward Timo Werner

Tottenham are reportedly close to securing a loan deal for RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner until the end of the season, according to Sky Germany.

Sky Sports News had previously suggested that Werner was being offered to Manchester United in the January transfer window, but it now appears likely that he will return to London this month.

Spurs, who have not commented on the speculation, are expected to cover the full salary of the 27-year-old until the end of the current campaign.

The potential transfer comes at a crucial time for Tottenham, as club captain Heung-Min Son will be absent for at least a month due to his participation in the Asia Cup, and there are concerns over Alejo Veliz’s knee injury.

Werner has had limited playing time for Leipzig in the Bundesliga this season, featuring in only eight matches and scoring two goals. He is currently contracted to the club until the summer of 2026.

The German international previously enjoyed a successful spell at Leipzig, scoring 93 goals and providing 40 assists in 157 appearances, before joining Chelsea for £45m in July 2020.

However, Werner’s time at Stamford Bridge was largely disappointing, with only 10 goals scored in 56 Premier League games before returning to his former club in 2022.

Spurned chances at Chelsea extinguished Werner’s potential

Sky Sports’ Adam Smith:

Timo Werner arrived in the Premier League three-and-a-half years ago with high expectations. While displaying his direct qualities, he struggled to convert chances in front of goal. Comparing Werner’s per-90 statistics during his time at Chelsea with his previous three league campaigns in Germany, his strike rate stands out as the main notable change.

In terms of tangible numbers, Werner scored 10 goals in two Premier League seasons at Chelsea. However, based on expected goals (xG), he should have scored nearly twice that figure.

The shot map below shows all of Werner’s 124 shots for Chelsea in the Premier League, with progressively darker shades of red indicating easier chances to convert. It reveals that he missed several opportunities in front of goal.

Chelsea used Werner in various positions in their attack in an attempt to harness his talent, but he struggled to deliver amidst fierce competition for a starting role.

Tottenham will be hoping Werner’s second chance in the Premier League will yield better results. The player himself will undoubtedly feel he has unfinished business in England.

Spurs in Ongoing Talks with Genoa for Radu Dragusin

Tottenham is also continuing talks with Genoa over their target Radu Dragusin.

The Romania international recently played the full 90 minutes for Genoa in their 1-1 draw against Bologna in Serie A.

While there have been reports of Napoli’s interest in the 21-year-old, Tottenham is not concerned and remains focused on securing a center-back during the January transfer window.

Follow the January Transfer Window

The winter transfer window is now open and will close at 11pm in England and midnight in Scotland on Thursday 1 February, 2024.

In order to align with the major European leagues, the closing dates have been coordinated through discussions with the EFL, DFL, Serie A, LaLiga, and LFP. They have agreed to close their transfer windows on 1 September and 1 February, respectively.

Stay up to date with all the latest transfer news and rumors in our dedicated Transfer Centre blog on Sky Sports’ digital platforms. You can also catch up on the latest developments on Sky Sports News, including daily transfer shows, and listen to our Transfer Talk podcast.