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Since his €53million transfer from RB Leipzig to Chelsea in 2020, Timo Werner has struggled to get going in England. He has had his moments, of course, but they have been few and far between. The Blues have not been able to depend on the player in crucial encounters and many believe his time at Stamford Bridge is all but up.
The German forward has featured in 11 Premier League games for Chelsea this season, registering only a single goal and an assist. The return is far from impressive for a player of his caliber.
Unless he turns his fortunes around for good, a transfer looks imminent, and below are the five names that could come in his place.
Not all of them are like-for-like replacements, but they could do the Blues a world of good in the coming seasons.
Here are five players who could replace Timo Werner at Stamford Bridge:
#5 Ousmane Dembele – Barcelona
When Barcelona paid Borussia Dortmund €105 million to sign Ousmane Dembele in the summer of 2017, many backed him to become the next big thing in Europe.
But over the next four-and-a-half years, injuries, inconsistent performances and off-field issues have reduced him to a shell of his former self.
With Dembele’s contract running out in the summer, Barcelona were desperate to either tie him down to a new deal or sell him in January.
The Frenchman refused to budge either way and is set to become a free agent at the end of the season.
Chelsea were linked with a loan deal for Dembele in January, but the move somehow fell through.
Thomas Tuchel is particularly fond of the former Borussia Dortmund man, having previously signed him for the German club from Rennes in 2016. As a result, the Blues could once again try and lure Dembele to Stamford Bridge next summer.
If Tuchel can work his magic and restore the Frenchman's confidence, Chelsea could have a winner on their hands.
#4 Lautaro Martinez – Inter Milan
Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez could be Timo Werner’s ideal replacement at Chelsea. The Argentine striker possesses close control, knows how to score spectacularly, and loves to combine with his teammates. The fact that he also shares a rather fruitful relationship with Romelu Lukaku will not hurt the Blues’ case.
Lukaku and Martinez fed off one another to lead Inter Milan to the Serie A title last season, ending Juventus’ nine-season title-winning streak.
The Nerazzurri had trouble adjusting to life without Lukaku at the start of the season. Fortunately for them, Martinez has more than stepped up to the task in the Belgian's absence.
The Argentina international’s 11 Serie A goals have not only helped Inter’s case but have also made Martinez one of the hottest strikers in Europe.
The Premier League outfit are reportedly keeping tabs on the player and could pounce if an opportunity presents itself in the summer.
#3 Tammy Abraham – AS Roma
Chelsea academy graduate Tammy Abraham was deemed surplus at the start of the campaign and was sold to AS Roma for a €40million fee. Since his move to Serie A, the 24-year-old has been a man reborn, emerging as one of the best strikers in the division.
The Englishman is quick, smart, and has a penchant for scoring as well as creating. Jose Mourinho has also worked on his defensive contribution, making him a well-rounded centre-forward.
Abraham has featured in 23 Serie A games for Roma so far, registering 10 goals and three assists. Six of his 10 goals have come in his last seven league appearances.
Chelsea reportedly added an €80million buyback clause in Abraham’s contract before selling him to Roma. However, it is not going to be active before the summer of 2023.
#2 Alexander Isak – Real Sociedad
Arsenal tried their best to sign a top-level centre-forward during the January transfer window. Fiorentina’s Dusan Vlahovic was their primary target, but the Serbian was not eager to move to England.
After losing Vlahovic to Juventus, the Gunners went after Real Sociedad’s Alexander Isak, but couldn’t finalize his transfer before deadline day.
They are still determined to sign the player in the summer but might have to vie with their local rivals Chelsea for his services. Thomas Tuchel’s side are reportedly prepared to spend £75million to get the Sweden international on their books.
Isak, who has scored 41 goals for Sociedad in 115 games across competitions, is not a prolific goalscorer. However, given that Chelsea already have Romelu Lukaku at their disposal, they could hugely benefit from Isak’s creativity and link-up play.
#1 Erling Haaland – Borussia Dortmund
The most sought-after striker in world football right now, Erling Haaland, is on every mega club’s wishlist. Chelsea, who intend to dominate England and Europe for the foreseeable future, are no exception.
He has a €75million release clause in his Dortmund contract, which will become active next summer. With every European giant keeping tabs on the Norway international, the west Londoners must do their best to snap up Haaland next summer.
The 21-year-old is the perfect modern-day centre-forward. He is quick off the block, can shoot from range, is strong in the air and has impressive off-the-ball movement.
Since moving to Signal Iduna Park from Red Bull Salzburg in January 2020, the Norwegian striker has featured in 79 games for BVB, registering 80 goals and 21 assists.
Having him in their ranks will not only fill Werner’s void but also make Chelsea a force to be reckoned with on the continent.
