Timo Werner: Pundit discusses potential transfer options
Liverpool decided earlier this week that they would not be signing Timo Werner. The German international was firmly on their radar until COVID-19 threw a major spanner in the works, with all transfer activity placed on hold for the meantime.
Liverpool had the vacant No 19 shirt ready for TImo Werner ahead of a transfer (Image: GETTY)
Several months ago, everything appeared to be in place for Werner to move to Liverpool.
As speculation increased, Werner fuelled the rumour mill by openly admitting his desire to play under Klopp at Liverpool.
Many had questioned where Werner fits into the current attacking set-up but Klopp would have enjoyed the luxury of being spoilt for choice.
The 24-year-old forward said in February: "I know that in Liverpool they play with a lot of good players and I have to improve myself to learn much more things, to get on this level to play there.”
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Perhaps the biggest indication that Werner would have to work his way into the fold was his choice of potential shirt numbers.
It's fair to say he would have had difficulty selecting a trademark attacking number.
He currently wears the No 11 shirt at Leipzig, but that is occupied by Mohamed Salah.
Roberto Firmino has worn the No 9 shirt since 2017.
Timo Werner wore the No 19 at Stuttgart (Image: GETTY)
The Brazilian kindly vacated his old jersey for Salah when he arrived from Roma.
Sadio Mane has donned the No 10 since the start of the 2018/19 season.
It used to be Philippe Coutinho's number before he joined Barcelona.
Around those, there are not many vacancies in the Liverpool dressing room.
Numbers 16, 17 and 19 are all available and would have left Werner short for choice.
But given the start of his senior career, there is one shirt that Werner would have snapped up if he'd have signed for Liverpool.
Werner wore the No 19 shirt at Stuttgart, where he first made a name for himself.
It has huge sentimental value to him and would have made him feel at home at Anfield.
Timo Werner is set to join Chelsea instead of Liverpool (Image: GETTY)
The deal wasn't to be though and his current options at Chelsea won't be much better.
Numbers six, 25, 26 and 27 are the only available options under 30.
However, there is a good chance Willian's No 10 and Pedro's No 11 shirts will become available, with both wingers set to depart Stamford Bridge this summer.