Timo
Werner's impending move to Chelsea is a transfer that suits both the player
and the club, says former Blues midfielder Michael Ballack.
RB Leipzig forward Werner, who is the second-highest scorer in the
Bundesliga this season, is set to join Chelsea when the transfer window
opens at the end of the season.
Werner has a £49.4m release clause - which expires on Monday June 15 - in
his Leipzig contract, and Chelsea have offered him a £200,000-per-week deal.
They look to have beaten Premier League rivals Liverpool and Manchester
United to the 24-year-old's signing, and former Germany captain Ballack
believes the move is a sensible one.
He told Sky Germany: "I think it's a good decision for both sides. For Timo,
because he fits there, because the way he plays football suits him.
"I think that, with Chelsea, he decided for a club where he has a better
chance of playing, which is very important to him.
"The team will be rebuilt, it will certainly be strengthened and Chelsea
will spend a lot of money to compete at the top again.
"A good young team is being built there, it is very promising. He [would be]
playing together with even better players than in Leipzig."
Werner has been one of the standout players in Germany this season, and his
goals have helped Leipzig to third place in the Bundesliga with just four
matches remaining.
But Ballack says Werner will have to improve even more if he is to be
successful in the Premier League, saying: "The intensity of games in England
is higher because there are so many games.
"You need to have your own well-organised rhythm, live a healthy life and
avoid injuries.
"[It is] very important to improve your strength in duels. It is more
difficult for strikers in England because the referees don't whistle for
everything.
"But Werner will get used to the Premier League quickly - he's fast,
powerful and strong in duels."
Why Werner is joining Chelsea
By Kaveh Solhekol, Sky Sports News reporter
The coronavirus pandemic has meant that clubs have been drastically cutting
their transfer budgets, but Chelsea are owned by the Russian billionaire
Roman Abramovich and £49m looks like a fair price for a prolific 24-year-old
forward who is still young enough to have a high resale value if and when he
leaves Stamford Bridge.
The negotiations with Leipzig are being handled by Chelsea director Marina
Granovskaia and the two clubs did business last summer when the promising
Ethan Ampadu moved from Stamford Bridge to Leipzig on loan.
Frank Lampard also has more money to spend than some of his rivals because,
while clubs such as Real Madrid and Barcelona were spending fortunes last
summer, Chelsea were serving a transfer ban.
When considering where he was going to move to this summer, Werner made it
clear he wanted to play in the Champions League. Chelsea will restart the
Premier League season in fourth place, three points ahead of Manchester
United. Fifth place may be enough for Champions League qualification this
season if Manchester City lose their appeal against their European ban.
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