Tottenham Hotspur have decided to retain German forward Timo Werner for at least one more season.
Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports that Spurs are in advanced talks with RB Leipzig over extending Werner’s loan deal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The Germany international joined Spurs on a short-term deal in January, returning to the Premier League for a second spell after a turbulent two-year stay at Chelsea.
Given his abysmal goalscoring record at Stamford Bridge, eyebrows were raised when Spurs opted to secure his signature, but it turned out to be a fairly successful loan spell in north London.
Werner came in when Ange Postecoglou was short on attacking options, with his forward line decimated by injuries.
His versatility also came in handy for the Australian manager as he could feature anywhere across the frontline, although he was predominantly deployed as a left winger.
Werner returned two goals and three assists in 13 Premier League games. He also created three big chances while averaging 1.2 key passes per 90 minutes.
The ex-Chelsea ace was initially seen as a way to plug the gap in attack, but he earned the manager’s trust, and Postecoglou has previously insisted he is open to keeping Werner at the club.
A smart move for Tottenham
According to Romano, Spurs want to strike a deal that will see them maintain the original agreement with Leipzig.
While Postecoglou appears to be a fan of Werner, the move could stem from Spurs’ significantly reduced financial wiggle room after missing out on Champions League football.
It has previously been reported that they will only consider realistic targets this summer, so retaining Werner could be a smart move for the north Londoners.
The German already has plenty of Premier League experience under his belt and will improve Postecoglou’s attacking depth.
However, Spurs are still expected to pursue additional attacking talent to bolster their frontline and compete for a return to the Champions League next season.
Stats from Sofascore.com