Timo Werner never really recovered from his time at Chelsea. Despite 23 goals in 87 games with the Blues, a Champions League final won against Manchester City (1-0) where he was also a starter, Werner never really managed to establish himself sustainably under the orders of Thomas Tuchel in London. His return to RB Leipzig in 2022 should allow him to once again become the serial scorer he was before, but the dynamic was completely different. After a decent first season for his comeback (16 goals in 2022-2023), the German striker has completely faded away. Since the summer of 2023, he has only scored 5 small goals in all competitions, a staggering record for a player once considered one of the most promising center forwards in Europe, in particular thanks to his profile as a fast and strong attacker in duels. Worse still, his one and a half season loan to Tottenham (2023-2025) turned into a fiasco: only 3 goals in 40 appearances. As a reminder, he was not even in the group to compete in the C3…
This season, the situation has become almost humiliating. His current coach, Ole Werner no longer counts on him: Timo Werner only played one minute in the Bundesliga, during a short stint in added time against Wolfsburg (0-1) last September. At a press conference, the latter confided: “As far as Timo (Werner) is concerned, it is true that all the players in our squad can have a chance to play. As always, we will try to evaluate performance in training. He missed a large part of the pre-season and did not participate in the friendlies. Some players are simply in front of him. » Indeed, in Leipzig, the young Johan Bakayoko, Yan Diomande, Rômulo, Conrad Harder and even the young Tidiam Gomis are all preferred. According to Sports BildLeipzig would now be ready to let him leave well below his value, or even for free, simply to reduce their payroll. The Germans hope to save up to €12 million by next summer by releasing unwanted players this winter, among whom Timo Werner is at the top of the list.
Europe turns its back on it, Miami extends its hand
The contrast is monumental for a player who scored 25 goals in 59 caps with Germany and was still among the Mannschaft executives in 2021. Werner has not been called up for the German selection since 2023, symbol of a trajectory which collapsed at high speed. Even when Olympique Lyonnais were offered the player last summer, his XXL salary (nearly €900,000 per month) dampened Les Gones’ ambitions, despite the excellent relations between the Rhone club and the one belonging to Red Bull. OL finally attacked Martín Satriano. Today, no major European club seems ready to take the gamble, despite being 29 years old. However, he was Barça’s target in 2021, as revealed ESPN.
Indeed, the most realistic door now leads to the United States. According to Sky Sport Germanyseveral teams are in advanced discussions with the player’s entourage, but it is indeed David Beckham’s Inter Miami which would be in pole position to recover him from the winter transfer window. Werner is under contract until 2026, but his club will not object to a departure, and the former Chelsea player could well join Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez in MLS. The one who had the best time for Leizpig between 2016 and 2020 (95 goals in 159 matches) is perhaps preparing to say goodbye to the very high level to relaunch a career shattered far too soon. MLS, often a haven for players seeking rebirth at the end of their careers, could be its last chance to bounce back after several nightmarish years.
