---
title: "James Pearce outlines why Liverpool’s interest in Werner is so strong"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/articles/james-pearce-outlines-why-liverpools-interest-in-werner-is-so-strong/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Articles"
published: "2020-03-04T17:00:00Z"
modified: "2020-03-04T17:00:00Z"
---

# James Pearce outlines why Liverpool’s interest in Werner is so strong

Timo Werner is a primary transfer target for Liverpool in order to bridge the drop-off in quality in the Reds’ attack, according to [The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/1648845/2020/03/04/liverpool-chelsea-atletico-mailbag-james-pearce/)‘s James Pearce.

Liverpool continue to be [linked](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2020/03/04/werner-really-wants-liverpool-move/) with a summer move for the RB Leipzig star, who once became the youngest player in [Bundesliga history](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/news/Bundesliga/timo-werner-rb-leipzig-150-bundesliga-games-stuttgart-manchester-united-liverpool-475363.jsp) to score twice in a game.

Werner has [hinted](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/timo-werner-liverpool-transfer-news-best-in-world-a4366671.html) that a switch to Anfield could appeal, adding fuel to the speculation about his future.

Speaking in a [Q&A](https://theathletic.com/1648845/2020/03/04/liverpool-chelsea-atletico-mailbag-james-pearce/) on Wednesday, Pearce outlined exactly why Liverpool’s interest in the 23-year-old is so strong:

> The drop-off in quality between Liverpool’s first-choice front three and the back-up options is far too great.
>
> That’s why RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner is so high on the club’s list of transfer targets for this summer.
>
> With Salah and Mane set to miss at least a month of the season due to the Africa Cup of Nations, Klopp needs more depth and better options up there, especially with Xherdan Shaqiri expected to depart after an injury-plagued season.

### Read Liverpool Verdict

Pearce’s reasoning behind any potential move for Werner makes complete sense, with the gap in class between the first-choice front-three and those beneath them absolutely huge.

That was highlighted in Liverpool’s 2-0 defeat at Chelsea on Tuesday, with Divock Origi [struggling](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1453401/Live/England-FA-Cup-2019-2020-Chelsea-Liverpool) out on the left wing and Takumi Minamino still adjusting to English football.

I believe Werner is likely to come in as a regular starter, although Jurgen Klopp could ease him in to begin with, letting him loose during the winter, when Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane head off to the [Africa Cup of Nations](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51119002).

I think Liverpool need to be in a situation where someone of Werner’s quality is warming the substitutes’ bench – Manchester City have that currently and it is a huge asset to them, with the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Riyad Mahrez not guaranteed starters.