Timo Werner has suggested that his future may be away from Chelsea, by stating he could be happy elsewhere.
The striker was one of the hottest properties in Europe when he joined Chelsea from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2020 for a £47.5m deal. However, since moving to London, he has failed to justify the price that Chelsea paid for him.
As a result, he has been linked with a transfer from Stamford Bridge in this current transfer window as Chelsea looks to cash in. The arrival of fellow forward Raheem Sterling from Manchester City has done little to silence the rumours.
The German was reportedly discussed as part of a bid to sign Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt and his future in Thomas Tuchel’s team remains in doubt. However, his high £270,000-a-week wages may be a stumbling block to clubs interested in signing him.
Meanwhile, the 26-year-old has said that he had not held talks with manager Thomas Tuchel over where he stands ahead of the new season.
“It is hard to say,” he said when asked if he needed clear-the-air talks with his manager.
“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.”
When asked whether he could find that happiness at Chelsea, he said,
“I could be happy everywhere.”
The striker, who has won 53 caps for his native Germany, has scored just 10 Premier League goals in two years. He played in just 21 Premier League fixtures last season but is unaware of why he has struggled for game time under Tuchel.
“It is hard to say,” he said via talkSPORT.
“I didn’t ask but I think of course the manager always has different ideas, different thoughts and what you need in different games. I think in many games I was not in his thoughts, so I try to change that.”
Ahead of the upcoming World Cup in Qatar, Werner knows that he will face competition for his place in the Germany squad, and has admitted he needs more minutes on the field.
“It is clear I want to play more and I should play more to first be in good shape for the World Cup and also, to have a chance to play at the World Cup,” he added.
“I think it doesn’t change anything, whether it is a winter world cup or in the summer. I think if I play half of the season or the whole season, I should play.”
Despite his mind being in the November World Cup, Werner is keener on getting his Chelsea career back on track. With the renewed competition caused by Sterling’s £47.5m arrival from City, Werner is keen on getting more game time in Stamford Bridge.
“It’s not different to last season,” he said.
“I think it was the same when Romelu (Lukaku) came here that we have big, big competition up front. It is still the same. At a big club like Chelsea, you have that competition.
“In pre-season, you can show that you want to play and that you are a guy who wants to be in the starting XI. That’s what I try.”
