Man Utd consider £45m Premier League flop as first transfer after Ratcliffe deal
Manchester United have shortlisted £45million Chelsea flop Timo Werner ahead of a surprise January move.
Werner, 27, returned to RB Leipzig in August 2022 after two difficult seasons in the Premier League, during which he only scored 10 top-flight goals. Despite the German striker's struggles, United have been tipped to bring him back to England once the January transfer window opens and he could end up being Sir Jim Ratcliffe's first signing.
British tycoon Ratcliffe, a former Chelsea season ticket holder, is closing in on a £1.3billion deal to acquire a 25 percent stake in United which will give his petrochemicals company, INEOS, control of the club's football operations. One of their first priorities is to improve the Red Devils' recruitment on and off the pitch, although Werner would be a questionable start.
Having failed to make the grade at Stamford Bridge following his switch in 2020, he was shipped back out to East Germany, where he's yet to rekindle his career. The 27-year-old hasn't played a full 90 minutes of competitive football since May and has lost his place in the German national team, yet Sky Sports are claiming that United have already enquired about his availability.
It's added that while Werner's preference is to stay at Leipzig until the summer, he's not satisfied with his diminishing role under manager Marc Rose. The 57-time senior international didn't even play a single minute in their 3-1 victory over Freiburg on Sunday.
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United are in the market for another forward to support £72m signing Rasmus Hojlund, who aged 20 has endured a difficult start to life at Old Trafford as the leading man. Anthony Martial's poor fitness record makes him an unreliable backup for boss Erik ten Hag, while Marcus Rashford has made it clear that he prefers to play on the left wing.
Chelsea flop Timo Werner has failed to rekindle his career since returning to RB Leipzig (RONNY HARTMANN/AFP via Getty Images)Get involved! Should Manchester United sign Timo Werner in January? Join the debate in the comments section.
Werner can be deployed as a wide forward but mostly enjoys playing as one of two strikers, offering Ten Hag a tactical differential. Should he join the Red Devils, he'd link up with struggling ex-Chelsea team-mate Mason Mount. It's unclear whether United would prefer a permanent move or a loan, although the latter seems more likely given their history of January signings.
Last season, Ten Hag brought in midfielder Marcel Sabitzer and striker Wout Weghorst until the end of the campaign, while in 2020 former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer loaned Odion Ighalo. All of their arrivals at Old Trafford raised eyebrows and so would Werner's.
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