RB Leipzig Taking Smart Approach in Timo Werner Transfer Saga

The rise of RB Leipzig has been remarkable. In only a few years, the Leipzig-based club has gone from being in the 2. Bundesliga to become one of the most exciting and most productive clubs in Germany’s top-flight.

However, gaining positive results can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, teams gain prestige and that can lead to better players joining the club each year. But on the other hand, this can also lead to top sides acquiring interest on the former’s best players. That is exactly what has happened with Leipzig and Timo Werner.

Werner’s contract runs out at the end of the current season, and he is not going to extend his deal with Leipzig. He wants a new challenge in his career and the Red Bull club is not going to get in his way, just like Leipzig’s CEO Oliver Mintzlaff said a few days ago. “We would like to get a transfer fee. There are numerous interested parties and top clubs have enquired”.

With that in mind, Leipzig are being extremely smart. They know they are going to lose Werner either this year or the next year, so it’s better to sell him now when they can get a good profit on his sale. And those words from the CEO could drive Werner’s prize a few millions of euros.

So… he’s leaving Leipzig. But where is he going exactly?

Aside from the fact that Werner wants to leave, there needs to be interest from other sides to sell him. The Premier League market closes next week, and no EPL sides have looked keen to sign him. Liverpool were interested in him last summer, but that is not the case anymore. And very few other sides in Europe can afford him. Teams like PSG and Juventus come to mind, but neither is on the market looking for a striker.

Bayern Munich could be an option as well, but the reigning Bundesliga champions prefer to wait until next season to acquire Werner as a free agent. Borussia Dortmund could be an option since they have lacked a proven striker that can fight for the starting place with Paco Alcacer. But there has not been any indication of the “Yellow Bees” being interested in the Germany international.

A proven, reliable force upfront

The Germany international has been one of the most productive strikers in the Bundesliga over the past few years, and some of the best sides in Europe have expressed interest in signing the 23-year-old. And who wouldn’t like to have him leading the attacking line? He’s coming off a “down year”, but still managed to score 16 goals with nine assists in 30 Bundesliga appearances.

In fact, Werner has 63 goals and 34 assists in 188 Bundesliga appearances in his career. He also has 10 goals in 23 international appearances with Die Mannschaft. That kind of firepower screams “top-level” club, but nothing has happened yet. But considering the Bundesliga market closes at the end of September, then Leipzig have enough time to find a team willing to spend to sign Werner.

Right now, the only that’s clear is that Werner is leaving Leipzig in the coming weeks. That’s the best thing they can do right now, considering the circumstances and the fact that they can’t afford to let him leave for free.