Werner shows why he is hot property – too hot for Tottenham
Spurs will regret their failed bid to sign German striker, writes Matt Law at the Red Bull Arena
It was five years ago that Tottenham Hotspur looked into signing a German striker by the name of Timo Werner from Stuttgart. Their inability to do so was not the only Sliding Doors moment of the summer of 2015, as Spurs also failed with a bid for Saido Berahino.
One star missed, one bullet dodged and Tottenham finished that transfer window signing another forward from the Bundesliga, Son Heung-min, who, at £22million, remains one of the club’s best pieces of business in recent years.
Werner was 19 when Spurs were looking at him and had scored only three goals in the previous season, so it is impossible to know how he might have adjusted to a move to England and the Premier League at such an early age.
But there is no doubt that Werner is now out of reach, even though his Red Bull Leipzig release clause means he can be signed for a relatively modest £52million – around £3million less than Spurs paid for Tanguy Ndombele.
In a summer in which Harry Kane could very well decide it is time to try to move on, Werner should be one of the strikers Tottenham are seriously considering. But he is not because the club know they cannot compete with the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea.
Werner may not be a traditional striker in the mould of Kane, who could lead an attack on his own, but he is very much the modern forward – using the wide positions to make an impact.
Other than the competition that effectively rules out Tottenham, there is also the fact that Werner is currently far more likely to win silverware at Leipzig, who dumped Jose Mourinho’s side out of the Champions League.
He has helped fire Leipzig into the Bundesliga title race with 21 goals in 25 League games and now has a Champions League quarterfinal to look forward to.
Starting off on the left behind Leipzig’s out-and-out striker Patrik Schick, Werner demonstrated his pace, vision and ability to find space by drifting across the front line.
It was from the right side that Werner smashed a shot into Eric Dier and then had the composure to pass the rebounded ball to Marcel Sabitzer to open the scoring.
He had Dier in a panic when he hit the turbo button to chase down the Tottenham defender, who just about managed to clear the ball before Werner could get a toe to it.
The offside flag saved Tottenham when Werner turned in Angelino’s cross and that understanding between the pair will not have been missed by City manager Pep Guardiola.
Angelino is on loan from City and the idea of him returning to Manchester with Werner would certainly excite many of the club’s supporters.
Werner’s desperation to get on the scoresheet was evident at the start of the second half, as he tried to create enough space to shoot after again cutting in. Spurs managed to clear, but right-back Serge Aurier will not have enjoyed his evening in Germany.
Firing high and wide on another occasion, Werner will have been frustrated not to get a goal. But he can be confident that his suitors will believe he passed this particular Premier League audition.