Jurgen Klopp is flattered after hearing Timo Werner’s recent comments about Liverpool but would not be drawn on any transfer speculation.
The 23-year-old German marksman said he’d suit Klopp’s playing style before describing him as “the best coach in the world”.
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- Werner has been linked with a move to Anfield during the previous two transfer windows.
- The 23-year-old is currently enjoying the form of his life with 27 goals and 11 assists in 33 appearances this season.
- It has recently been claimed by German news outlet Sport1 that Werner could cost as little as £30m, owing to his release clause.
- Werner has now talked up a move to Merseyside after suggesting his style of play fits Klopp’s counter-pressing mould.
- Athletic journalist James Pearce says he’d “be surprised if Timo Werner didn’t come to Liverpool.”
Werner has seen his name heavily associated with a switch to Anfield and those rumours are only going to increase now following his praise of the current European Cup-winning manager.
The RB Leipzig frontman is in stellar form this term, with his 27-goal haul helping Leipzig to second in the Bundesliga and providing Julian Nagelsmann’s side a slender advantage in the Champions League over Tottenham Hotspur.
Due to Werner’s relentless engine, speed and high-pressing ability, he has previously been described as an archetypal Klopp player, a suggestion even he attests to.
“Our game in London has brought Liverpool [links] to the media,” Werner told Welt.
“[They] have Jurgen Klopp, the best coach in the world who is German. There are a lot of things that would suggest that my playing style might be a good fit [in his system at Liverpool].”
Klopp, who is four wins away from ending the Reds 30-year championship drought, is happy to hear Werner’s appraisal but stresses there’s nothing more to it.
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“I prefer that when players speak about us they are positive, rather than saying ‘that’s the last club I would ever go to,” he told Sky Sports News.
“From that point of view it’s obviously nice, but that’s all – there’s nothing else to say about it.”
‘We put ourselves under too much pressure’
Leipzig have occupied top spot in the Bundesliga across numerous stages of this season, but they currently find themselves second behind perennial league leaders Bayern Munich.
The Bavarians have picked up their form following the dismissal of Niko Kovac and installation of Hans-Dieter Flick, but Werner believes Leipzig only have themselves to blame for surrendering their occupation at the summit.
“It’s hard to think about where to play next year if you want to step on the gas here and now,” he continued.
“During the winter break, we made the mistake of being too concerned with the championship. We put ourselves under too much pressure.”