Timo Werner is the latest Chelsea striker to be linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge. Juventus are reportedly interested in a loan signing for the upcoming season as they look to bolster their attacking options. Werner has played an important role in Chelsea's recent European success but after a season of struggling for game time, the attacker is open to a move.
Thomas Tuchel and Todd Boehly have a decision to make here. With Romelu Lukaku already out of the picture, can the Blues afford to lose yet another forward on loan? There are several reasons for and against the move but it ultimately falls on what the manager wants for his team going forward.
The rebuild project at Chelsea has not gone quite to plan with Barcelona monitoring their every move and players choosing alternative options. Fans are sceptical about what this upcoming season may hold - especially if they lose Timo Werner. It could be a blessing or a curse.
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It's no secret that Timo Werner has had a rollercoaster ride of misfortune at Chelsea. The Bundesliga-proven striker has failed to match the numbers produced at his former club, RB Leipzig. It's not to say that he is any less of a player - some footballers need that time to adjust to the Premier League and Werner is not the first to do so. Let's assess the pros and cons of Werner's departure.
Pro's of Werner leaving
The positives weigh up equally for both player and club in this situation. Werner has openly stated that he wants more game time especially with the World Cup coming up. He wants to be involved in the German national team on the big stage. A move away could guarantee him a starting spot if he's to replicate his Leipzig form.
Chelsea could also benefit from getting his wages off the books. The German currently earns around £272,000 a week making him the highest-paid player at the club. It's an incredible chunk that will be removed from the wage bill and could potentially fund the wages of two new players.
All in all, as much as fans indulge in Werner's hard work and positive attitude on the pitch, the situation is leading towards a bitter, toxic ending and nobody wants that. From the outside looking in, it's hard to tell if Tuchel and Werner see eye to eye. The possibility of an unsettled dressing room is the talk of the town as it stands, and if true it would be better for both parties to split. We've also seen the environment created for strikers that don't quite make it at Chelsea. Alvaro Morata for example shared an unenviable relationship with the fans to the point where he left without a positive thing to say. Yikes.
Cons of Werner leaving
Have you ever had a player that may not have been the best on the pitch but was just good vibes? That is Timo Werner at Chelsea in a nutshell. He is a player that you automatically want to see become successful. It's difficult to accept that he has not managed to make it work at Chelsea. At his previous club, he was a 25+ goals a season type of player. Losing him will open a sea of hypotheticals. What if he restores his form and becomes that calibre of player once again? Chelsea would be in a deficit of a striker and Werner will be back on top.
A question that may be asked, is why hasn't Thomas Tuchel managed to get the best out of the Chelsea forward. Although he is seen as an absolute prize by most Chelsea fans, Tuchel hasn't been able to make it work with Werner, Lukaku or Tammy Abraham. Werner could be the third striker he loses in one year. It doesn't look too great on the German manager from the outside looking in. However, his work with the rest of the team is something that will go down in the history books at Stamford Bridge.
Tuchel is a miracle worker, so it's upsetting that he's not had luck with Werner. The 26-year-old has shown evident progression in his playing style and could possibly only get better. Todd Boehly will need to take a gamble in figuring out what his next steps with Werner will be. Will he let him go, or try his luck and ask him to stay?
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