Timo Werner: RB Leipzig manager Marco Rose confirms Tottenham transfer target will leave club in loan deal

RB Leipzig manager Marco Rose has confirmed that Timo Werner will leave the club on loan, with Tottenham Hotspur the German's widely reported destination.

A plethora of reports had suggested Spurs were close to signing Werner, and Rose's comments all but confirm the forward's temporary departure.

Speaking to Sky Germany, Rose, who has previously managed Borussia Monchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund, said Werner wanted to leave the east German side on loan in a quest for more first-team football ahead of the European Championship this summer.

"It's right that Timo wants to go on loan," Rose said.

"Timo would like to go to the European Championship. We wish him all the best and are keeping our fingers crossed for him."

The 27-year-old striker is best known in England for his time with Chelsea, where he won the UEFA Champions League but largely struggled to convince before returning to Leipzig in 2022.

Manchester United had also been linked with the Germany international as they looked for a striker to support Rasmus Hojlund, but it now appears that they will have to look elsewhere as Werner closes in on a return to London.

Werner joined Chelsea from Leipzig in 2020 for a cost of around £45 million, but with just 23 goals in 89 appearances he failed to meet expectations, and he then rejoined his former side, costing approximately £20m less for the Bundesliga team.

However, he has been unable to match the form of his first spell when he notched 95 goals in 159 appearances, with his second tenure returning 18 goals in 54 games - and he has only two Bundesliga goals to his name this season.

He had been linked with United and other Premier League sides as it was rumoured that he was unsettled in Germany and wanted a return to England, with The Red Devils often said to be in the frame.

However, The Athletic and several other outlets reported that Ange Postecoglou wuold be the manager who will have him at his disposal for the rest of the season, rather than Erik ten Hag.

Tottenham will be without Heung-min Son while he is on international duty with South Korea, and with Ivan Perisic and Eric Dier looking set to leave the club in January, it is no surprise that Tottenham are looking to strengthen their squad.

David Ornstein has reported that a 'total agreement' has been found between Leipzig and Spurs for Werner's services, which will see the German return to London on loan until the end of the season, while Tottenham will have an option to buy valued between €15m and €20m.

The report also states that Spurs will cover Werner's full salary while he is at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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