Robbie Fowler claims Timo Werner isn’t good enough for Liverpool as the RB Leipzig striker looks set to complete a move to Chelsea.
The 24-year-old had been heavily linked with a move to Anfield, and looked destined to join the Reds this summer until it emerged that the Blues had stolen a march on them.
Werner, who has proven to be one of the standout players in the Bundesliga over the past couple of seasons, looks set to seal a £53million switch to West London, as football.london understands that the Blues are inching closer towards concluding a deal for the striker ahead of his release clause expiring on June 15.
Liverpool legend Fowler though insists the Premier League champions elect are not missing out, and that there is a reason why no other clubs have triggered Werner’s release clause.
“I’ve heard the noise surrounding Timo Werner in recent weeks – but I’m not a big fan,” Fowler wrote in his column for the Mirror.
“I realise he’s a talented player, he has moments of real brilliance in matches that underline his quality.
“But I stand by this: is Werner up to the standard of Liverpool’s current front three? Not for me.
“And, obviously, my opinion will be put to the test next season if he does complete a move to Chelsea.
“There has been so much rumour around his intended destination for months now, with my former club at the heart of that, but most of the other big names in European football have been linked to him.
“I’ve also seen the meltdown from some Liverpool fans when they realised he’s probably not leaving RB Leipzig for Anfield after all.
“It makes it seem as though he’s a Marco van Basten, a world-class player who would walk into any side.
“For the life of me, I don’t know why. I’ve watched him a fair few times and there are things about his game I like and admire.
“But does he influence games consistently enough? Not for me. Does he match up to the players you are signing him to challenge and replace? Not at Liverpool. Maybe at Chelsea.”
In the past, not just in England but also abroad, we have seen some clubs pay over the odds for transfers and players have not gone on to live up to the price tag their new club had paid for them, and that is a warning that has been issued by Fowler.
“We’ve seen it before with clubs struggling a tiny bit – they pay over the odds to get players," the former Liverpool ace added. "City had to do that for a while, Chelsea themselves too.
“At times, Liverpool have done that over the past two decades. It rarely worked for them.
“I’m not saying Werner is a flat-track bully, but I do think there are clearly doubts about him from all the top clubs with all their sophisticated analysis that tells them exactly what a player is worth.
“If Liverpool value a player as essential, they will pay the premium – as they did for Virgil van Dijk and Alisson. Both were world-record fees in their position at the time.
“So I stand by my analysis. I’m not sure the fuss is worth it about Werner. I’m not sure he’s a Liverpool player.”
