Former Liverpool FC great and Champions League winner with the Reds, Jamie Carragher believes that his former club missed out on the signing of German striker Timo Werner due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Merseyside club famously missed out on signing their long-term target Werner recently after it had emerged that Liverpool FC were withdrawing their interest in signing the RB Leipzig player due to financial constraints brought on by the pandemic crisis. Instead, Liverpool FC’s rivals in the Premier League, Chelsea FC swooped in and have agreed to match Werner’s release clause worth £50million with the player’s present side RB Leipzig.
Carragher stated that he believes Werner would have made the move to Anfield had the pandemic not halted football globally and caused distress among the people. The 24-year old Werner had publically voiced his desire of playing for the Reds under Jurgen Klopp and had conveyed his decision to the RB Leipzig board. However, the Reds inability to meet the price-tag set by the Bundesliga side led to an end of the negotiations between the two teams.
The former Liverpool FC defender also voiced his dissuasion at speculation that Werner would have not got enough minutes on the football pitch had he signed for the Reds.
Carragher, however, contradicted the claim by stating that despite the current Liverpool FC front three of Roberto Firmon, Sadio Mane, and Mohammad Salah being world-class in every aspect, the injuries and squad rotation of the Reds squad would have led to Timo Werner getting enough opportunities to prove his worth in a Reds shirt.
Moreover, the upcoming Olympic Games and the Africa Cup Of Nations which have been scheduled for the upcoming football calendar would have meant Sadio Mane and Mohammad Salah going on a long break away from Anfield. In such a scenario, Werner’s presence would have been a huge boost to Jurgen Klopp and his squad.
With the German striker being very close to agreeing on personal terms with Chelsea FC and finalising a move to Stamford Bridge, Carragher voiced his opinion that Liverpool FC could have persued the player’s transfer as moving to Anfield seemed like the top priority for Werner.
