Timo Werner is on the verge of returning to the Premier League (Picture: Getty)
Timo Werner has been left out of RB Leipzig’s squad ahead of this afternoon’s friendly against St. Gallen ahead of his imminent Premier League return.
The 27-year-old returned to the Bundesliga the summer before last after two underwhelming years at Chelsea.
Werner has failed to rediscover his scoring touch in the Bundesliga and has scored only twice so far this season.
Despite his form deserting him, the versatile forward had been identified by both Tottenham and Manchester United as a candidate to boos their respective forward lines in January.
Erik ten Hag’s attack has failed to fire this season with Marcus Rashford, Rasmus Hojlund and Anthony Martial boasting just four Premier League goals between them.
Antony, meanwhile, scored only once during 2023, while Jadon Sancho has been in exile in September and is braced for a loan move to Borussia Dortmund.
United will, however, be forced to look elsewhere with Spurs set to win the race having all but agreed a six-month loan deal.
Spurs moved into the fourth round of the FA Cup last night following a 1-0 win over Burnley, in what was their first match without this season’s top scorer Son Heung-min.
The South Korea international has linked up with his national team squad ahead of this month’s Asia Cup which could see him miss another five matches over the course of the next month.
With youngster Alejo Veliz also on the treatment table, a move for a new striker, capable of playing across the front line, was viewed as imperative by Ange Postecoglou.
Positive talks have already been held between the two clubs, according to Sky Germany, over a six-month agreement but it is, as yet, unclear as to whether an option to buy clause will be included in the deal.
Speaking ahead of the win over Burnley, Postecoglou remained coy on the subject of Spurs adding new blood during the January window.
‘It’s hard to say because I don’t get involved in that side of it,’ he explained. ‘As I said leading into the window, we’ve got some objectives and some targets and we’re working towards that.
‘People behind the scenes and in charge of those areas are working towards that and my role within that is when I’m sought for guidance and clarity on which way we need to go, I provide that.’
Asked if he has an ideal number of new faces he wants to see come through the door in January, he said: ‘No, it doesn’t work that way. There are a lot of moving parts in a window like this.
‘Like I said, January you don’t expect too much in terms of activity but again I’ve said before is that every opportunity we have to strengthen the team, strengthen the squad, we should try and take.
‘Depending on the sort of opportunities we have to do that this month, we’ll try and do it.’
More to follow…