Published: September 26, 2021 7:45 pm
Last Updated: September 26, 2021 7:53 pm
Word stemming from the German media this weekend suggests that Timo Werner was in fact eyeing a move to another of English football’s giants, before linking up with Chelsea.
Blues stint
German hitman Werner of course made the move to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2020, on the back of another scintillating campaign in his home country, with RB Leipzig.
All told, though, the 25-year-old’s Premier League experience has since proven a hit-and-miss one.
Werner, to his credit, is now a European champion, after playing a central role in Chelsea marching all the way to Champions League glory back in May.
And though his work-rate, attitude and even, surprisingly, creative exploits have proven of the highest standard whilst a Blue, the attacker has come in for deserved criticism for regular profligacy in front of goal.
Chelsea’s Timo Werner (left) celebrates scoring their side’s first goal of the game during the Premier League match at London Stadium. Picture date: Saturday April 24, 2021. (Photo by Andy Rain/PA Images via Getty Images)
Werner, across 52 appearances in all competitions in 2020/21, managed to find the net on a paltry 12 occasions.
Such woes, meanwhile, have since continued into the new campaign, with the German having notched just a solitary goal across six outings thus far.
Old Trafford ambitions
As such, it goes without saying that those in a position of power at Stamford Bridge have likely been left disappointed by the return on a considerable €53 million investment.
But, as outlined above, if the latest word doing the rounds in the German press is anything to go by, then Chelsea, in fact, came close to missing out on Werner’s addition altogether.
The info comes courtesy of Sport Bild, citing the reliable Der Spiegel, who exclusively reveal that, a year prior to his move to the English capital, the 25-year-old had his sights firmly set on linking up with another of the Premier League’s giants.
The outfit in question? Manchester United:
Chelsea FC wasn’t Werner’s first choice at all!
In the “SPIEGEL” report it is announced that Timo Werner originally wanted to join Manchester United – and not Chelsea. This is confirmed by documents from 2019.
Chelsea fans won’t like this – also glad we didn’t sign him 😂 #MUFC https://t.co/XSdxIzcLn0
— Stretty News (@StrettyNews) September 26, 2021
The fee Chelsea are ‘willing to pay’ for De Ligt revealed
Juventus dealt double injury blow ahead of Chelsea clash
Chelsea betting odds, next game:
Chelsea vs Southampton odds: result, both teams to score, correct score & goalscorers
Chelsea’s latest videos
Chelsea 0-1 Manchester City | Premier League Highlights
Watch the highlights from Chelsea’s Premier League match against Manchester City. Download Chelsea FC’s…
2021-09-25T21:00:01Z
Matchday Live: Chelsea v Manchester City | Post-Match | Premier League Matchday
Download Chelsea FC’s official mobile app: -App Store https://apple.co/2vvlN9t -Play Store http://bit.ly/2MfNJHX Subscribe: http://che.lc/YTsubscribe…
2021-09-25T13:59:07Z
Premier League table
| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Liverpool FC | 6 | 11 | 14 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 6 | 11 | 13 |
| 3 | Chelsea FC | 6 | 10 | 13 |
| 4 | Manchester United | 6 | 8 | 13 |
| 5 | Everton FC | 6 | 5 | 13 |
| 6 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 5 | 3 | 12 |
| 7 | West Ham United | 6 | 5 | 11 |
| 8 | Aston Villa | 6 | 2 | 10 |
| 9 | Brentford FC | 6 | 3 | 9 |
| 10 | Tottenham Hotspur | 5 | -3 | 9 |
| 11 | Watford FC | 6 | -2 | 7 |
| 12 | Leicester City | 6 | -3 | 7 |
| 13 | Arsenal FC | 5 | -7 | 6 |
| 14 | Crystal Palace | 5 | -3 | 5 |
| 15 | Southampton FC | 5 | -2 | 4 |
| 16 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 5 | -3 | 3 |
| 17 | Newcastle United | 6 | -7 | 3 |
| 18 | Leeds United | 6 | -8 | 3 |
| 19 | Burnley FC | 6 | -6 | 2 |
| 20 | Norwich City | 6 | -14 | 0 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 5 |
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 5 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 5 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 4 |
| Sarr, Ismaila | Watford FC | 4 |
| Benrahma, Said | West Ham United | 3 |
| Gray, Demarai | Everton FC | 3 |
| Ronaldo, Cristiano | Manchester United | 3 |
| Lukaku, Romelu | Chelsea FC | 3 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur | 3 |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 3 |
| Maupay, Neal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 3 |
| Calvert-Lewin, Dominic | Everton FC | 3 |
| Jota, Diogo | Liverpool FC | 3 |
| Raphinha | Leeds United | 3 |
| Greenwood, Mason | Manchester United | 3 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 2 |
| Saint-Maximin, Allan | Newcastle United | 2 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester City | 2 |
| Townsend, Andros | Everton FC | 2 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 0 | 3 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 0 | 3 |
| Cooper, Liam | Leeds United | 0 | 3 |
| Etebo, Oghenekaro | Watford FC | 0 | 3 |
| Skipp, Oliver | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | 3 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 0 | 1 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 0 | 2 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 0 | 2 |
| Raphinha | Leeds United | 0 | 2 |
| Alonso, Marcos | Chelsea FC | 0 | 2 |
| Rice, Declan | West Ham United | 0 | 2 |
| Richarlison | Everton FC | 0 | 2 |
| Ritchie, Matt | Newcastle United | 0 | 2 |
| Westwood, Ashley | Burnley FC | 0 | 2 |
| Gudmundsson, Johann | Burnley FC | 0 | 2 |
| Duffy, Shane | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | 2 |
| Norgaard, Christian | Brentford FC | 0 | 2 |
| Rudiger, Antonio | Chelsea FC | 0 | 2 |
| Tarkowski, James | Burnley FC | 0 | 2 |
| Laporte, Aymeric | Manchester City | 0 | 2 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 7 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 3 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 3 |
| Saint-Maximin, Allan | Newcastle United | 3 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester City | 3 |
| Kovacic, Mateo | Chelsea FC | 3 |
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 2 |
| Benrahma, Said | West Ham United | 2 |
| Townsend, Andros | Everton FC | 2 |
| Ings, Danny | Aston Villa | 2 |
| Toney, Ivan | Brentford FC | 2 |
| Bamford, Patrick | Leeds United | 2 |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 2 |
| Gross, Pascal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2 |
| King, Joshua | Watford FC | 2 |
| Pereira, Ricardo | Leicester City | 2 |
| Alexander-Arnold, Trent | Liverpool FC | 2 |
| Rice, Declan | West Ham United | 2 |
| Luiz, Douglas | Aston Villa | 2 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 1 |
