Chelsea
defender Antonio Rudiger says he was constantly speaking to Timo Werner
during lockdown in order to convince the striker - who he compares to
Leicester's Jamie Vardy - to move to Stamford Bridge.
Germany international Werner agreed a five-year contract to join Chelsea in
a €50m (£45m) deal, subject to a medical, with the 24-year-old remaining at
RB Leipzig for the remainder of the Bundesliga season before joining up with
his new team-mates in July.
Chelsea beat off competition from the likes of Liverpool, Bayern Munich and
Juventus to complete the signing and Rudiger says he played a part in
helping persuade his international and former club team-mate to choose west
London as his next destination.
"I did speak to him before because we have known each other for a long
time,' Rudiger told Chelsea TV.
"We spoke a lot during the lockdown and he told me he was interested in
coming to England. Of course then I did my bit, what I had to do."
Rudiger says he sees similarities between Werner and Leicester striker Vardy
in the way they use their pace to capitalise on mistakes from opposition
defences.
"He's a really big threat to defenders," he continued. "RB Leipzig is a more
counter-attacking team but in terms of attacking the defensive line, he's
similar to Vardy. He has a lot of pace and if the defender makes a mistake
and loses the ball, then he goes!"
"I would say he's a quiet, humble guy, always ready to do better," Rudiger
added of Werner's personality off the pitch.
"I hope he adapts very quickly when he comes because as we all know this
competition is different than others."
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