Could Timo Werner be on his way out of Chelsea? That's a grey area that has barely been touched in this summer's transfer window. Whilst there were rumours sanctioning an exit for the German earlier this year, news around the matter has since been quiet. Werner is openly unhappy about his lack of game time under Thomas Tuchel last season. The 25-year-old on a few occasions mentioned that he would like to play more.
Unfortunately, Tuchel has had a lot of attackers to keep happy and give an adequate amount of game time to across the season. It's difficult to find the best performing front three when there's a demand to change things up so often. With both Liverpool and Man City strengthening in the attacking department, the Blues must lock down Werner for the upcoming season. They've already lost Romelu Lukaku.
Werner has admitted that his future is still up in the air. Speaking to the Daily Mail he said: "It is hard to say (if clear the air talks are needed). First of all, the most important thing is that I am happy. I am happy when I play and score goals. That’s the fact. That’s what I should take care of and the other things will come. I could be happy everywhere. It is hard to say (why I've struggled for game time)."
READ MORE: Thomas Tuchel makes Timo Werner transfer admission as Todd Boehly dealt £60m Chelsea decision
Thomas Tuchel has pledged his desire to close the gap as much as possible between the Blues and Premier League duo Manchester City and Liverpool. To do this, he is going to need more than a complete squad. As it stands, Chelsea are short of options for that number 9 role. The manager has a couple of choices to fill this position but it would be a rather unorthodox way of working. Speaking to the media on their pre-season tour, Tuchel mentioned that he has Michy Batshuayi, Timo Werner, Kai Havertz, and Raheem Sterling to play as a 9.
Sterling and Havertz are not natural strikers but the pair do have a keen eye for goal. Batshuayi has been a Chelsea exile since 2018 with loan after loan and is highly favoured for another move away. Timo Werner is the only man standing as a forward who knows what it takes to produce 30+ goals a season. He is yet to reach these heights at Chelsea but has since shown progression in his adaptation to the Premier League.
Manchester City have signed a prolific, young goal scorer Erling Haaland, and Liverpool matched their energy and secured Darwin Nunez from Benfica. Nunez has had a roller-coaster pre-season but had managed to hit the back of the net 4 times in Liverpool's friendly against RB Leipzig. If he is able to replicate such form in the Premier League, Chelsea will need to have an answer.
Last season Timo Werner managed 11 goals and 6 assists for club and country in almost half the minutes he played in the season before. There's evidence in progression for the forward but will it be enough to hold down the fort for Chelsea next season? There is room for improvement but Tuchel is hailed as a great coach - surely he will be able to squeeze that extra bit of performance out of him.
HAVE YOUR SAY - Is Timo Werner good enough to stay at Chelsea? Leave a comment with your thoughts
READ NEXT:
- Chelsea closing in on long-term transfer target Jules Kounde despite Barcelona hijack attempt
- Every word Thomas Tuchel said on Chelsea defeat, Sterling, Werner future, Kepa, Azpilicueta
- Commentator laughs at Conor Gallagher as Chelsea fans fume at 'worst penalty ever' vs Charlotte
- Stay, leave, loan: Armando Broja decision that could shape Todd Boehly's Chelsea future
- Timo Werner delivers verdict on new Chelsea signing Kalidou Koulibaly after Antonio Rudiger exit
