Timo Werner will give up on RB Leipzig’s Champions League bid in order to link up with Chelsea in July, according to German publication, Bild.
The Blues agreed on on a five-year contract worth £180,000 a week with the Germany star earlier this month after meeting his £53 million release clause.
But while Werner will finish the Bundesliga season with Leipzig, he will not play for the club when European football resumes in August.German publication Bild claim that he has decided against playing in the Champions League so that he can join Frank Lampard’s squad as soon as possible.
RB Leipzig are already through to the quarter-finals of the competition after dumping out Tottenham in the last-16. Werner scored the only goal in the first leg in London.
The Champions League is likely to be completed entirely in August once Europe’s major domestic campaigns – the Premier League, LaLiga, the Bundesliga and Serie A – have finished.
Meanwhile, The Evening Standard claim that Werner’s move to Stamford Bridge will be officially completed this week.
Talks over how the deal will be structured have been ongoing, but the Blues are now close to announcing Werner’s arrival.
The striker’s £53m release clause – which Liverpool refused to pay given the financial uncertainty caused by the coronavirus crisis – expired at midnight on June 15.Chelsea capitalised on their rivals going cold on Werner, who had been expected to make the move to Anfield after holding talks with Jurgen Klopp.
But he is now on the verge of becoming a Chelsea player after Frank Lampard was promised the funds to strengthen his squad significantly.
Last Friday, RB Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann admitted that the 24-year-old would be leaving at the end of the season.
‘I do not expect Timo to be here next season,’ the 32-year-old told DAZN after Leipzig secured a 2-0 win over Hoffenheim.
Chelsea triggered Werner’s release clause before Monday’s deadline but will be unable to get him on the pitch before the start of next season.
Lampard’s squad is taking impressive shape before the transfer window has even opened, with Hakim Ziyech arriving from Ajax in a £37m deal.
The Blues are also keen on £75m-rated Bayer Leverkusen winger Kai Havertz and Leicester left-back Ben Chilwell.
