Chelsea make huge Werner breakthrough as Liverpool stunned

Chelsea have stunned Liverpool by agreeing personal terms with Leipzig striker Timo Werner.

Werner was widely considered to be joining Liverpool either this summer or next, with the Germany international having reportedly narrowed his options down to just two.

The forward was described as ‘absolutely desperate’ to move to Anfield, while Jurgen Klopp was said to have tried to persuade Liverpool’s board to match his £52.75m release clause.

The Timo Werner update everyone was waiting for…

It was even claimed that Werner had agreed personal terms with the Premier League leaders, but Chelsea made a significant breakthrough in negotiations on Thursday afternoon and are now expected to agree a deal with Leipzig.

The Daily Telegraph suggest a £200,000-a-week contract has been offered to Werner, which The Guardian says will be for five years.

The latter outlet adds that while Liverpool ‘are yet to bid’, missing out on one of their main summer targets will ‘disappoint’ them.

ESPN corroborate both those contractual details, while also stating that the promise of ‘more game-time’ at Stamford Bridge – a factor Liverpool could not guarantee – was key to the pitch.

Chelsea have already secured the arrival of Hakim Ziyech from Ajax as Frank Lampard seeks to use the budget he opted to save in the January transfer window.

The Blues have also been linked with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Kai Havertz and Moussa Dembele, but signing Werner will likely signal an end to their pursuit of forward players.

Ben Chilwell has emerged as their ‘first choice target’ as the solution to their left-back problem, but Leicester will hold out for around £85m for the England international.

Chelsea are winning the league, basically.

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