KEY POINTS

  • Timo Werner joined Chelsea in the 2022 summer window
  • He has been at Chelsea for two seasons
  • The German striker scored just 11 goals last term

Chelsea striker Timo Werner is reportedly close to making a dramatic return to RB Leipzig in the underway summer window.

Talks between Chelsea and Leipzig have been going on over the last few days. The Bundesliga side is expected to pay around $31-36 million for Werner, who has a contract with the Blues until 2025, Sky Sports reported.

It was previously believed Werner was set to join Leipzig on a loan deal, but both clubs now have a full agreement for a permanent move, and the paperwork is expected to be completed on Aug. 8, according to Fabrizio Romano, who has a credible record in the European transfer market.

Even Juventus are interested in securing Werner's services, according to ESPN. However, as things stand now, Leipzig are a frontrunner in the race to sign Werner.

Werner had a fine run with Leipzig, where he spent four seasons between 2016 and 2020. He netted a total of 95 competitive goals, including 34 in his final campaign before moving to Chelsea in the summer of 2020. The London club had defeated Liverpool to sign Werner at $58 million.

Unfortunately, Werner failed to replicate the same success in London as he has managed to log only 23 goals and 21 assists in 89 appearances for the Blues in all competitions.

Chelsea forward Timo Werner
Chelsea forward Timo Werner AFP / Adrian DENNIS

In the last term, particularly, Werner made only 37 competitive appearances for Chelsea. Out of their 38 Premier League games, the German forward played in just 21, starting only 15 of those. The 26-year-old striker finished with 11 goals and six assists in the 2021-22 season as Chelsea lost two finals and did not win a single trophy.

With the arrival of Raheem Sterling from Manchester City, it is believed Werner has fallen in Thomas Tuchel's pecking order. He is not even guaranteed game time despite Romelu Lukaku's departure to Inter Milan this summer.

Tuchel did not include Werner in his match-day squad for Chelsea's 2022-23 Premier League opening fixture on Saturday. He instead opted for a forward line of Kai Havertz, Mason Mount and Sterling as the Blues defeated Everton 1-0 at Goodison Park.

Chelsea's upcoming league fixture is a home game against Tottenham on Aug. 14.