Former Germany international Michael Ballack believes that if Chelsea were to complete the signing of RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner it would be a perfect match for both player and club.
Football.london understands that the Blues are "highly confident" that they will be able to strike a deal to trigger the Germany international's £53million release clause before it expires on June 15 (next Monday).
Werner, who is considered as one of the most deadliest strikers in European football, has been heavily linked with a move to England over the past few months, with the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United all having been closely tracking his movements.
But despite Liverpool, certainly for a lengthy period of time, having looked on course to win the race for the 24-year-old, Chelsea have now jumped into first place to sign the Leipzig star, and they aim to wrap it up as soon as possible.
Should they get the deal over the line, as expected, former Blues midfielder Ballack, who spent four years of his career at Stamford Bridge, is confident that it will prove to be a match made in heaven for both parties.
"I think it's a good decision for both sides," Ballack, as quoted by Goal, told Sky in Germany. "For Timo, because he fits there, because the way [Chelsea] play football suits him.
"I think that in Chelsea he has decided on a club where he has a better chance of playing, which is very important to him.
"The team will be renewed, it will certainly be strengthened and a lot of money will be spent in Chelsea to knock again at the top. A good young team is being built there, which is very promising."
Ballack's view, however, differs completely to that of former England international Owen Hargreaves.
The former Bayern Munich and Manchester United midfielder, who is now often seen working as a pundit for BT Sport, has previously admitted that he believes joining Liverpool would have been the Germany international's wisest move if he was to seal a switch to the Premier League.
Hargreaves told The Mirror: "I think Timo Werner is going to score goals wherever he goes. But it comes down to personnel. He will be doing this, doing homework on who will be a good fit for his game.
“We saw this with Fernando Torres when he left Liverpool.
“The way Liverpool played they were an incredible defensive team, with Steven Gerrard playing those balls through the middle and it was a match made in heaven.
“Then he goes to Chelsea where they had a lot of slow possession and there was no space for Fernando to run into.
“In the end, that’s not a great fit. He was a super player, Chelsea were a super team but you've got to play to a player's strengths.
“I think Timo Werner is that type, the Fernando Torres type, where he is super explosive, he will run away from anyone.
“Having that ability to run in behind and into that space, it would suit his game. When you think about a team like Liverpool they do that. They counter and transition better than anyone. He would suit them.”
