No release clause for Liverpool target Timo Werner
Liverpool were keen on signing Timo Werner in the summer but decided to hold off on a move and went after his Red Bull Leipzig teammate Naby Keita, who will be joining the Reds for a club-record £48m fee next summer.
That’s not to say Liverpool don’t still hold long-term interest in Werner. With Divock Origi not in the first-team picture at the moment, Danny Ings struggling with injuries yet again and Daniel Sturridge clearly not Jurgen Klopp’s preferred centre-forward, the Reds could move for a striker in the near future to complete a star-studded attack with Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.
Werner has really broken out since his £9m move from Stuttgart last summer, netting 25 goals and providing seven assists in 36 games for Leipzig, and 31 goals in his last 40 games for club and country.
Despite interest from Liverpool, Leipzig director Oliver Mintzlaff has revealed that Werner won’t be leaving on the cheap as there is no release clause in his current contract, meaning clubs will likely need to stump up a major fee for the Germany international.
He has a contract until 2020 and he feels at home here. We are playing in the Champions League. With this, we can offer Timo everything to continue his development here. We are completely relaxed. Here, he has the perfect platform.
Real Madrid have also been linked with a move for the 21-year-old striker.