Timo Werner was supposed to be a player-in-waiting for Liverpool with both parties seemed to be in mutually agreement for an eventual transfer. However, the Reds blinked on the £50 million release clause for the RB Leipzig striker and Chelsea pounced on the opportunity. It is now believed the Jurgen Klopp's side is out and Frank Lampard will soon welcome the Bundesliga star.
Following Liverpool's backtracking move on the Werner transfer talks, media reports from England and Germany have indicated that the 24-year-old is now locked on a deal with the Blues. The formal signings have yet to happen, but the German is said to have given his yes to Lampard's side.
According to Metro, the Leipzig was convinced to choose Stamford Bridge on the promise that he will become Chelsea's second-highest-paid player. The salary proposed to Werner reportedly amounted to £200,000, which the young German couldn't say no to.
And things were made easier for both the German side and Chelsea as the latter agreed to pay the price demanded by Leipzig.
Before the Blues entered the picture, it has been widely reported that Liverpool enjoyed an advantage over rivals in the race to sign Werner, but the Reds hesitated to pay the full price tag set by Leipzig. It helped that Lampard has the financial backing of the Chelsea board, and he thought it wise not pass on the chance to sign a talented and promising frontman.
The Blues boss is banking on the performance of Werner in the season that saw 24 goals in games he played in Bundesliga matches. Lampard is hoping that the youngster will mirror the same or exceed the numbers for next season.
Chelsea, however, will not stop following the signing coup that Lampard has completed. It is expected that the manager will set his sight next on Leicester City defender Ben Chilwell.
If true that the Blues are looking to acquire Chilwell and that the England international is keen to join up with the Stamford side, then it could spell trouble for Arsenal, Mirror reported.
That's because Leicester will need to hunt for a replacement, and the ready choice for Brendan Rodgers is Gunners left-back Kieran Tierney. The latter is seen as an easy signing for the Leicester boss as the two worked together for Celtic.
Journalist Duncan Castles is convinced Tierney will only be too happy to play again under Rodgers, the report added.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will likely allow the sale of Tierney since the player struggled with injuries in the season and only appeared in 11 games. And releasing the player, signed for £24 million last summer, will deliver the needed cash to the Spanish boss.
