Timo Werner puts Chelsea transfer ahead of RB Leipzig's Champions League push

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Giuseppe Muro16 June 2020

Timo Werner has told RB Leipzig he wants to miss the climax of the Champions League campaign in order to speed up his move to Chelsea.

The Germany striker is keen to leave Leipzig at the end of the Bundesliga season later this month, rather than stay and play for them in European club football’s showpiece in August.

European governing body Uefa are set to confirm on Wednesday that the Champions League will conclude with a mini-tournament in Lisbon, with the final on August 29.

But Werner, who has agreed terms on a £53million switch to Chelsea after holding talks with Frank Lampard before lockdown, is ready to sacrifice a shot at European glory to give himself more time to settle in west London before the start of next season.

The 24-year-old is also anxious about risking injury before his move to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea are putting the finishing touches on their move for Werner as part of a summer recruitment drive that Lampard hopes will see the Blues close the gap on Liverpool and Manchester City.

They have already signed Hakim Ziyech from Ajax for £37m and are also set to press ahead with moves for Bayer Leverkusen winger Kai Havertz and Leicester’s England left-back Ben Chilwell.

Leipzig are through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League after knocking out Tottenham in the last-16 stage and have three games left in the Bundesliga, which concludes on June 27

Should Werner miss the conclusion of the Champions League, he would be free to take a mini-summer break to refresh before linking up with Chelsea in July.

Chelsea have swooped to sign Werner, who has scored 31 goals this season, from under the noses of Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp wanted him but Liverpool’s interest cooled amid ongoing uncertainty of the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Lampard, who has been given £150m to spend this summer, is targeting young talent from across Europe as part of a recruitment drive after two windows without signings.

While their rivals are warning of reduced spending, the Blues have made early moves in the transfer market as owner Roman Abramovich targets winning trophies again.

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