Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has hailed Timo Werner as a "great player", ahead of the RB Leipzig striker's move to Chelsea.
The Blues are close to sealing a deal to sign the Germany international forward, with Frank Lampard's side in advanced talks.
Chelsea were keen to add quality to their attack this summer, after missing out on a forward in the January transfer window, and Werner fits the bill after establishing himself as one of the most highly-rated strikers in Europe.
Despite previously admitting his admiration for Liverpool amid interest from the Premier League leaders, Werner is expected to put pen-to-paper on a five-year deal at Stamford Bridge.
And Reds boss Klopp has spoken out about why the Anfield club did not make a move for Werner.
"There are a lot of good players on this planet," Klopp told Sky Germany. "Timo Werner is a great player, Kai Havertz is a great player.
"Right time, opportunity - everything has to come together. Six, seven weeks ago, we didn't know if we could play again this year. If we hadn't played the second half of the season, we would have thought, 'OK, when can you really play football again?' And now it starts right away.
"We act as if everything is already settled. It's not settled. We use this little loophole we've been left to play football again.
"Everything else we have to see the moment it happens. We can't pretend now that everything's going to be fine in the future."
Rio Ferdinand has also previously praised the 24-year-old, revealing just how important time and patience are when waiting for a young player to reach their full potential.
"He is really explosive," said Ferdinand on BT Sport, before Leipzig's Champions League last-16 first leg tie against Tottenham in February.
"I saw him a couple of years ago and balls were bouncing off him and his touch wasn't like what you would expect for his reputation, but you have got to give these young players time.
"Given time, he has now really shown what he is worth."
