Gossip: Liverpool’s Werner valuation revealed; Chelsea eye £37.4m pair
LIVERPOOL’S WERNER VALUATION REVEALED
Prior to Covid-19 ruining everything, it seemed like Timo Werner was destined to become a Liverpool player. The RB Leipzig striker was due to make a big move this summer and he and Jurgen Klopp have spent the last few months flirting quite openly. But all that seems to have changed in recent months.
Werner’s release clause – somewhere in the region of £50million – was one of Liverpool’s motivations behind pursuing the Germany international but the landscape is very different now. The Mirror are reporting this morning that the Reds have informed Werner that they won’t touch him at that price, and they now value him at ‘significantly less than £30million’.
Leipzig won’t do business when those are the terms on offer and Werner hasn’t agitated for a move. The 24-year-old could sit tight for another year in which time his release clause will drop to around £35million, while Leipzig chief executive Oliver Mintzlaff has already warned his suitors that any deal “won’t get any cheaper”.
CHELSEA EYE ANOTHER AJAX RAID
Nicolas Tagliafico’s value is proving rather less prohibitive to Chelsea. The Ajax defender is one of the names on Frank Lampard’s list of potential left-back recruits this summer and it seems there is a deal to be done.
The Telegraph say Chelsea have been informed that Tagliafico would be available this summer for £22.4million and that price could be attractive enough to propel the 27-year-old above Ben Chilwell in their reckoning.
Chilwell is said to be rated at more than £40million by Leicester – a lot more, you would think. Prior to Covid-19, it was thought the England defender would fetch three times the figure Tagliafico is available for.
READ: The 20 most expensively-assembled squads in Europe
BLUES TO BAG BURKI?
Chelsea also have a problem to solve in their goalkeeping ranks…
Kepa Arrizabalaga has woefully failed to justify is billing as the world’s most expensive goalkeeper and having been dropped by Lampard this season, the Spaniard was widely expected to be axed this summer.
Who, though, would give Chelsea an acceptable chunk of their money back, especially now? Kepa cost in excess of £71million two years ago when goalkeepers were a hot commodity. These days, most of the big clubs are content with their keepers, especially while money is tight and resources need to be prioritised elsewhere.
But that might not prevent Chelsea from signing a new stopper. The Sun reckons the Blues are eyeing up a move for Roman Burki, who is entering the final year of his contract at Borussia Dortmund. Burki could be available for £15million, which may still be pricey for a keeper who, according to Thomas Muller, ‘doesn’t have the longest arms’.
AND THE REST
Inter Milan may yet extend the loan spell of Alexis Sanchez… Inter and Napoli are leading the race for Victor Osimhen… No new contract talks are planned between David Luiz and Arsenal… Tottenham are hoping to win the race for free agent Ryan Fraser this summer… Man Utd and Real Madrid both want Rennes midfielder Eduardo Camavinga.
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