The Cottagers are among the Premier League’s lowest-scoring teams following the departure of Aleksandar Mitrovic to Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal in the summer. And reasonably keen to replace Mitrovic’s goal output, which included 14 Premier League goals last season, Marco Silva signed Raul Jimenez from Wolves. However, the move hasn’t worked out so far, with Jimenez managing only one Premier League goal in 11 appearances.
As a result, Silva is keen on adding a striker to his ranks when the transfer window reopens and has set his sights on Timo Werner. Fulham are reportedly interested in signing the Germany international on loan but could face competition from London rivals West Ham and Crystal Palace.
Werner, 27, rejoined RB Leipzig 18 months ago following an ordinary spell with Chelsea. He helped Chelsea win the Champions League in 2021, but just ten Premier League goals across two seasons wasn’t the return the Pensioners hoped for when they splashed £47.5m to sign him from RB Leipzig.
Unfortunately for Werner, he has yet to reinvigorate his career since moving back to Germany in 2022, managing just nine goals in the Bundesliga last season. The opening months of the 2023/24 season have seen the German forward struggle for game time after falling behind the likes of Benjamin Sesko, Lois Openda and loanee Xavi Simmons in the pecking order.
Now, Leipzig have decided that the 27-year-old is free to leave the club amid interest from Premier League trio Fulham, Crystal Palace and West Ham.
Timo Werner deal ‘difficult’ to do for Fulham
Werner is out of favour at Leipzig under Marco Rose and could be open to leaving the club in January. Fulham have shown interest in signing him, as Silva hopes to sign a proven goal-scorer to climb up the table.
The likes of Raul Jimenez and Rodrigo Munoz have not been able to score goals consistently, and a reliable goalscorer could help the Cottagers improve immensely. Silva will not only have to replace the output of the departed Mitrovic but also find a quality long-term replacement for Jimenez, who is 32 and past his prime.
Signing Werner could help improve Fulham’s productivity in front of goal, and it remains to be seen whether the forward is keen on a return to London after failing to really adapt to the fast-paced nature of Premier League football. Also, it will be a tough deal to do for Fulham due to Werner’s wages of over £150,000-a-week at Leipzig. Nonetheless, a straight loan deal has not been ruled out.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
