RB LEIPZIG’S wanted man Timo Werner is ready to stay in Germany for another year in order to seal a “dream” move to Liverpool.
In a slap in the face to Reds‘ rivals Manchester United and Chelsea, the striker has said he would stay at the Bundesliga club, which would then give him the choice of his next move: Anfield.
The Premier League champions-elect have been battling for the Germany international for much of this season.
He could replace either Mo Salah or Sadio Mane if huge offers come in for the players.
The Athletic claim he will stay and then get closer to the end of his Leipzig contract, when a much cheaper release clause kicks in.
It is due to finish in 2023 and in a year’s time, his value will have decreased.
Werner, who has hit 27 goals in 34 games for Leipzig this season, has a release clause valued at £53m this summer.
But that figure drops to £35m in 2021 and just £22m in 2022, the website claims.
The 24-year-old hitman is believed to have held talks with Reds boss Jurgen Klopp, as well as Barcelona, Chelsea and United representatives.
Earlier this month he snubbed a summer switch to German giants Bayern Munich.
He said: “A challenge in a foreign league would appeal to me rather than a move to Bayern.”
Klopp would love to snap up his fellow countryman but having spent £280m in the last two years, he knows Anfield bean-counters could be content to wait at least a year to get Werner for a cheaper sum considering the sensational form of Salah, Mane and Roberto Firmino.
The Bundesliga resumes this weekend after a two-month shutdown due to coronavirus.
