Manchester United could emerge as a shock destination for Chelsea flop Timo Werner after Ralf Rangnick’s appointment as interim manager.
According to a report from SportBild, Ralf Rangnick has asked Manchester United to explore a potential deal for Timo Werner. The newly-appointed interim manager has already started his preparation for his new role, as the German looks to manage United for the remainder of the campaign before taking on the role of a consultant for the next couple of years.
Rangnick’s appointment suggests he is set to have a major role in Manchester United’s policy in the coming years. And it appears the 62-year-old is favouring players he has worked with in the past, with the Red Devils being recently linked with a move for Amadou Haidara.
Werner is next on this list, as he is one of the players rated highly by the incoming United boss. Rangnick was the one who brought the German forward from Stuttgart to Leipzig back in 2016. Since then, the winger turned striker became one of the best attackers in the Bundesliga, with a stellar tally of 95 goals in 159 competitive appearances for Leipzig.
However, following his big-money move to Chelsea last year, Werner has found it difficult to prove himself in the Premier League. He has struggled to deal with the soaring expectations at Stamford Bridge, resulting in a lack of confidence in front of goal. His first season struggles at Chelsea even forced the club to spend big on Romelu Lukaku earlier this year.
And in order to accommodate newer targets, Chelsea will be keen on offloading Werner in the near future. The German international has been notably linked with a move to Barcelona lately, while Borussia Dortmund are also considering a swoop for the ex-Leipzig forward.
It appears Manchester United could become the next club to eye a move for the Chelsea star, most likely after the end of the season. The Red Devils are in a precarious situation in the offensive department as summer arrival Cristiano Ronaldo is unlikely to stick for long, while Edinson Cavani is expected to leave Old Trafford sooner than later, amid interest from Barcelona.
Timo Werner, in that regard, could turn out to be a sensible option for United. The German has experience of working under Rangnick and would easily suit his more heavy metal approach. And at the age of 25, he has time on his side, potentially making him a smart long-term investment for the Premier League giants.