Juventus have reportedly intensified contacts with the agents of Chelsea striker Timo Werner as they push to sign the 26-year-old German.
According to Corriere dello Sport, as relayed by Sport Witness, Juventus are ready to step up their efforts to sign German striker Timo Werner, with Chelsea open to the prospect of parting ways with him this summer.
Werner signed for Chelsea from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2020 but has endured a difficult couple of seasons in west London. In 89 matches for Chelsea so far, the 26-year-old has a tally of 23 goals and 21 assists, which is nowhere near the return that was expected from him after his prolific campaign with Leipzig in 2019/20.
Werner has not settled in well in Thomas Tuchel’s system and has grown frustrated with the lack of game-time coming his way. With it being a World Cup year, the former VfB Stuttgart ace needs regular minutes to cement his place in the Germany national team and is thus ready to push for an exit this summer.
A move to former club RB Leipzig has been touted, and he is believed to be keen on the switch. However, Juventus are also interested in Werner, who is not closing the door on a move to the Allianz Stadium either.
Juventus are desperately searching the market for attacking reinforcements as they seek to replace Alvaro Morata and Paulo Dybala. The former is back at Atletico Madrid after his loan deal expired, while the latter has joined AS Roma on a free transfer after his contract ran down.
Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri is thus looking for options to support and provide cover to Dusan Vlahovic, with Werner emerging as one among several targets. The report states that the Bianconeri are attracted by Chelsea’s willingness to let the German international leave on loan with a purchase option next summer as such an operation would suit their financial situation.
To that end, Juventus have intensified their contacts with Werner’s camp to assess his desire to move to Turin before they can make a formal approach to Chelsea over a transfer. However, his €10 million per year wages could become an issue, and the Bianconeri are working out a percentage of his salary that they would be comfortable paying.
With a return to his old stomping ground in RB Leipzig also a possibility, it will be interesting to see whether Werner chooses to move back to Germany or embarks on a new journey in Turin.
