Fansided

Liverpool, Bayern could get Timo Werner at a bargain price in 2020

By Kevin Parvizi

OSNABRUECK, GERMANY - AUGUST 11: Timo Werner of RB Leipzig controls the ball during the DFB Cup first round match between VfL Osnabrueck and RB Leipzig at Stadion an der Bremer Brücke on August 11, 2019 in Osnabrueck, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)
OSNABRUECK, GERMANY - AUGUST 11: Timo Werner of RB Leipzig controls the ball during the DFB Cup first round match between VfL Osnabrueck and RB Leipzig at Stadion an der Bremer Brücke on August 11, 2019 in Osnabrueck, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

RB Leipzig have agreed to an extension with star forward Timo Werner, but his reported release clause could make him a bargain signing for a top club next summer.

At one point, it seemed like a slam dunk that Bayern Munich would be able to sign Timo Werner on a free transfer in 2020, just as they have done for so many elite Bundesliga players like Robert Lewandowski and Leon Goretzka. However, RB Leipzig, who have designs on one day dethroning Bayern atop the Bundesliga table, were adamant that they would avoid this scenario at all costs.

Indeed Leipzig have officially announced an extension with Werner, who is now signed through 2023. Unfortunately for fans of the club, it looks highly unlikely that Werner will stay for that long, based on a report regarding his release clause.

According to Kicker, Werner’s release clause in this new contract is just 30 million euros, which would make him a bargain signing for any top club in Europe. Teams outside of Germany like Liverpool and Manchester United have been linked to Werner, who scored 16 Bundesliga goals last season and is just 23 years old.

Most top strikers with Werner’s goal-scoring record, versatility, and youth go for over 40 million euros, so this would be a bargain value for a team like Liverpool or Bayern. Both could use a pacy, proven goal-scorer with huge upside like Werner, who could bolster either team’s attacking depth in their quest to secure a treble.

Leipzig likely agreed to a deal with Werner that includes such a low release clause in an effort to avoid losing Werner for nothing to Bayern in 2020. At least this way, if Werner chooses to go to Bayern, they are guaranteed to get money in return. Although 30 million euros is nothing to a club with Liverpool or Bayern’s spending power, it’s a hefty sum for Leipzig, whose model is based on signing young players and developing them. They tend to allocate their money towards youth development, though they’d love to be able to spend on their wage budget to keep potential world-class forwards like Werner in the future.

Arsenal's future plan for returning to European prominence. dark. Next

It’s entirely possible Werner chooses to stay for the duration of his deal, but Leipzig would have to prove to the player that they are as prestigious as Liverpool or Bayern. In order to do that, they need to come close enough to winning the Bundesliga in Julian Nagelsmann’s first year as manager, in addition to putting together a more competitive Champions League outing this campaign.

Because the release clause is so low, the decision is Werner’s. If he wants to go to Bayern, United, Liverpool, Madrid, or Barcelona next summer, Leipzig will have to accept the 30 million euros and let one of their best three players depart the club. It’s better than nothing, but it means Werner can be a splash signing at a bargain price, especially for his two most likely – and intriguing – landing spots in Liverpool and Bayern.

Home/Soccer