Player Watch Player Watch: Timo Werner

I think a bit too much concern over Werner's wages. His current contract puts him tied for the 40th highest paid player in the league.

If he extends at his current rate - he won't be in the top-50 within a year, as wages continue to rise.

Bring him in for £15m - and extend his deal for 4 years, with a club option, and its a decent investment.

We have Europe again next season so we need a deep squad. Soloman may be back but his history puts doubt over whether he will be available enough. Gil never plays. Perisic is gone. I think we need 2 more attackers but having 1 who is already up to speed makes a lot of sense. Obviously it really comes down to whether Ange wants him or not. I think he will though, he's already starting him a lot. The key is he's already contributing to goals and we still aren't yet playing long balls enough for him. We're a team built on chances and goals come all around. Looking forward to seeing if the goal helps, I think he needs that 2nd one quickly and then he'll have the confidence.

Westmorlandspur said:

For 15m he would be great value if he was anywhere near what he was. Everyone knew he wouldn’t score the one to one. No confidence in those situations. Should be interesting at Villa because they push up like no one else .
Look at Beto at Everton for what you can get for around 15m. You don’t get much. Wouldn’t be surprised if we tried to negotiate the fee down. I would say the jury’s out on him, it’s up to him to perform.

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I don’t think you’re going to get better for 15 mil but you could get better if you add to that 15 mil. Yes that is an obvious statement but I still think it’s relevant when looking at our squad and the elements that are currently lacking. Money is obviously finite and I think we are reaching a place with the squad where we ether need to be adding players that immediately improve on what we have or have the potential to eventually.

For the moment he looks a very solid squad option but do we really need more squad options? Obviously we all know we need a top quality WF regardless if we retain Werner or not but even then at this stage do we need a solid 7/10 player? Would it not make more sense to put that money towards a young player who has the potential to be a 8 or 9 out of 10 player in a few years.

What is certain is that he needs to be given the rest of the season before deciding ether way, that is the luxury of having him on loan, but just going on the small sample size thus far I don’t see the sense it getting him. Personally I think Kulu, Johnson and Solomon are all solid squad options and it would be ideal to add a quality addition that slots straight in and young player with the potential to be a starter in a few years. Also profile wise he is very very similar to Johnson the only difference is Werner is further along in his development.

Just a hypothetical, it would make more sense to me to get a Neto and a Nusa say. (It doesn’t have to be those two just using them as examples of profile) then Neto and Werner. Obviously the initial outlay is different but I’m sure any young player would have significantly smaller contract demands than Werner.

One could argue that Werner would be more effective than a young player in the short term and they would probably be right but we haven’t actually had Solomon as an option all season and I think he would be just as useful as Werner if not more so given his strength 1 v 1.

Obviously there is also the potential that we sell Solomon due to concerns around his susceptibility to injuries but then if that were the case I’d suggest we should be going for a LW with a similar skill set to Solomon which isn’t Werner. Also if we sold Solomon that would give us a larger budget to play with.

Realistically we currently only have one wide player that is of the required level and that wide player will likely be moved to CF due to his age and suitability to the system. With that in mind we need a LW and RW upgrade and even if he bought Werner I think we would still be looking for a LW upgrade in an upcoming window.

Essentially unless one thinks Werner is good enough to be the starter on the LW next few season i don’t particularly see why we get him. At 27 he isn’t going to go up a level and at this point I think it would make more sense to put the money towards a player that will be an upgrade on our current options ether in the short or long term.

I think the other thing that will be a factor in picking up the option - how well does Werner fit into the dressing room?

If Ange sees him as a good fit within the club - I think the option is a no-brainer. If Ange thinks he is not a good fit, declining the option is also a no-brainer.

Agree with the comments being made by everyone here.

Is he a no brainer option? no. He has his faults and should we want to take up the option it would need to be at the right price and salary.
He's a bit of an enigma in that he has all the tools to be top drawer but something stops him from hitting that top level.
Good squad option? yes, for me but only at the right price, as long as his personality fits and he understands that he is signing to be part of the squad and not necessarily a first team regular.

Now it's Spursonal said:

From a ‘moneyball’ perspective the signing could make a lot of sense aswell.

Get him on a cut price deal on much lower wages as Leipzig are desperate to get him off the wage bill.

Keep him for the year as a great option for the cups and as a brilliant impact sub and then move him on for a tidy profit once his reputation has improved.

Much like we’re apparently viewing Solomon.

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Why are Leipzig "desperate" to get him off the wages bill and why did Chelsea want rid ? I would suggest because he isn't good enough ?

Styopa said:

I agree, but I don’t think the argument is about whether we replace Solomon or Gil with Werner. I think most people would be on board with that. I think the argument is about Werner being brought in as the main option for that spot- rotating with Solomon/ another Solomon style punt.

And secondly, people are worried we won’t be able to upgrade Werner in one or two year’s time because we’ll struggle to move him because of his wages.

If these concerns turn out to be baseless, for example we sign Werner and Neto, and Werner also takes a big pay cut, then I think most people will be happy.

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I think we’ll prob get Werner then that takes bit of the pressure off which enables us to get a Neto or probably a younger promising version from another league. It just seems a bit ludicrous that ppl seem so quick to say no when he has come in, worked hard, contributed a fair amount for someone thrown in and is now straight in the team. He isn’t clinical but seriously no one bar a few world class players are. We have been so used to Son and Kane who let’s be honest are probably some of the best finishers in EPL history. You look at other teams and they have the same issues if not worse. It’s like the criticisms levelled at Richarlison too. There’s probably a handful of players in the league that you would bet your house on scoring time and time again. He seemingly has a great attitude and wants to contribute. So for me he is bit of a no brainer as a squad player.
Yes we need to improve things but I do think ppl need some perspective. I say this as someone who didn’t want him in first place and have slated him for years when he played at Chelsea. I see what he can give us in terms of assists and regular goal involvements and that’s more that what can be said for our current other options.

allatsea said:

Why are Leipzig "desperate" to get him off the wages bill and why did Chelsea want rid ? I would suggest because he isn't good enough ?

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I guess that depends on what you want to use him for. He's been an good option as cover whilst Son was away and with players our injured.

First team starter? probably not but would be a solid squad option IMO.

I quite like the lad (he had me at boosegumps!) but I'm going to wait a bit longer before deciding whether I think we should keep him or not.

So far, he's doing pretty well in a new team, a new system and seems to be enjoying himself, which is important to our t squad mentality imo.

There's no real rush to make a decision yet but if he can keep his performances up, or better improve them, he seems a good player to have around.

One thing this season has shown is that we need decent squad options and so far, he looks to be just that at least.

Yantino said:

Agree with the comments being made by everyone here.

Is he a no brainer option? no. He has his faults and should we want to take up the option it would need to be at the right price and salary.
He's a bit of an enigma in that he has all the tools to be top drawer but something stops him from hitting that top level.
Good squad option? yes, for me but only at the right price, as long as his personality fits and he understands that he is signing to be part of the squad and not necessarily a first team regular.

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To me it’s mentality that stops him being todrawer

even the way he described how the weight was on his shoulders after missing the chance in the first half you can see he is a confidence player rather than someone that can brush it off and go again without it eating his self belief

feel like I’m general he gets in front of goal and worries about what another miss might mean for his reputation

that said full credit for him getting the goal yesterday

my comments are more about his suitability for a team with grand ambitions over a full season

I think Werner and Johnson make excellent pacy subs, with the option to start if we would benefit using pace against teams that press so I think for £15 million it's a no-brainer.

I think the squad needs two more technical players who can keep the ball and create against a packed defence.

So I'd be more likely to look to question Kulu/Solomon's roles in the front three.

I actually think he's a managers dream, he's well coached, has good movement, and it seems like he has a great attitude.

The only thing he doesn't have is great composure. If he did, he probably would be playing for a better side, imo

His movement for the 1st goal was excellent. The dummy run fooled the defender.

E17yid said:

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Is there a reason that I should watch that?
I generally don't see the point of these 'watch along' vids, so don't want to give them the click for no apparent reason.

McFlash said:

Is there a reason that I should watch that?
I generally don't see the point of these 'watch along' vids, so don't want to give them the click for no apparent reason.

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I time stamped it to just before the Werner goal. He was slagging him off then singing his name in the space of 1 second.

Gil seemingly isn't in the future squad plans, and if Solomon isn't either, then it makes sense to sign Werner as an impact sub, but still be looking for that longer term Son replacement on the left. But there is no way in hell Werner is going to get anything like 170K per week from us.

He knows that this is a great opportunity for him to turn his career around, I think he fits in well to the group and I think he'll happily take a pay cut to make the move permanent.

Do people really think RB are paying players 170k a week?

thekneaf said:

Do people really think RB are paying players 170k a week?

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Well yes. Why wouldn’t they? They aren’t poor, Dani Olmo only recently renewed his contract last summer and he’s now on €186k p/w. Raum is on €147k p/w, Klostermann is on €130k p/w.

His wages aren't a worry in themselves. His wages are a worry if he form drops off a cliff or whatnot and he's not exactly Luis Fugo 2.0 to justify it and worry about that later. They're simply not in line with what he brings to a team imo.

I don't dislike him as a player and he seems a lovely guy. I just don't want to be lumbered with a guy we can't shift because of silly wages. Again.

Whatever, no doubt the club are on top of these things. The 'kulcha' seems to have changed drastically so whatever they decide I won't second guess ultimately.

Werner on 170k a week still sounds mildly crazy to me though.

Guernman said:

Gil seemingly isn't in the future squad plans, and if Solomon isn't either, then it makes sense to sign Werner as an impact sub, but still be looking for that longer term Son replacement on the left. But there is no way in hell Werner is going to get anything like 170K per week from us.

He knows that this is a great opportunity for him to turn his career around, I think he fits in well to the group and I think he'll happily take a pay cut to make the move permanent.

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This would be the perfect outcome