Dietmar Hamann has responded to reports linking Liverpool with Timo Werner, admitting he feels the RB Leipzig forward may not be suited to the club’s style of play.
The Germany international has been strongly linked with a move to Merseyside in recent months following a prolific season in the Bundesliga, the forward having scored 27 goals in all competitions and helped Leipzig into the Champions League knock-out stages for the first time.
Werner – whose current contract contains a release clause of £52 million – is believed to be desperate to secure a move to join Liverpool during the summer transfer window, though former Reds’ midfielder Hamann has expressed concerns over his compatriot’s suitability for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Hamann has questioned where the 24-year-old would fit in ahead of Liverpool’s first-choice front three, and believes Werner’s threat on the counter-attack may be nullified given his former side’s tendency to dominate possession.
“I’m not too sure [about it]. Today in the papers, they’re saying that he doesn’t want to go to Bayern Munich. He’s always expressed how fond he is of Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool, the club that he maybe wants to join,” Hamann told Sky Sports.
Our Story: Timo Werner will definitely not join Bayern this summer. @BILD_Sport He rules out a Transfer to another German club. also because of Jürgen Klopp he would like to take the step to Liverpool @LFC
— Christian Falk (@cfbayern) April 29, 2020
“But the thing with Liverpool is you’ve probably got the best front three in world football. If you play out wide for Liverpool, even though the full-backs like to go on the overlap, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are both very tricky players, they are very skilful and Werner is not that type of player.
“His biggest asset by far is his pace and if I watch games now, even at Anfield, with Liverpool being so superior to most teams, most of them sit back and if you deny Werner space, he’s a lot less effective. If you look at his goal record for Leipzig, his goals this season has been outstanding, but they like to play on the counter-attack and they’re not really a possession team. I don’t think he’s got the trickery to play out wide as Mane and Salah have.
“Then if you look at Roberto Firmino’s position, I think the way they are set up, you almost need a Teddy Sheringham-type player like Firmino is to link things up. He’s not really one who goes in behind the back four, he likes to come short and bring Salah and Mane into the play so I just don’t know where he would play.
“I don’t think he is a wide player, I think he is best through the middle and I just don’t know where he should or would be. On the other hand, the Africa Cup of Nations – if it goes ahead – will be early next year so Mane and Salah might be away for four to six weeks and that’s probably one thing Liverpool have got in the back of their minds.
“I’m sure there are players out there who will help Liverpool more next season than Werner.”
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