With Manchester United in need of additional attacking options heading into next season, there is one player who could become lethal under Erik ten Hag, should he move from Premier League rivals Chelsea: Timo Werner.
Having faltered in attack during the 2021/22 season, Manchester United are exploring options in the summer window that could transform their attack and fully exploit the attacking talent of their forward players.
With players that possess as much talent and skill as Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford, Manchester United should not have struggled going forward to the extent they did in the previous season.
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The team scored the eighth most goals in the Premier League last term, with 57. This was bettered by the top five teams in the league, as well as West Ham and Leicester.
For a team the size of United, an average of just 1.5 goals a game simply isn’t competitive enough to challenge for the league title.
This, coupled with only eight clean sheets across the league last season, highlights why the Reds were subjected to such a challenging season.
In order to rectify their poor form going forward, it is essential for attacking options to join Old Trafford in the near future, with United due to go on a pre-season tour to Australia and Thailand in the coming weeks.
Brazilian winger Antony has been heavily linked with a move to United, but negotiations with Ajax are proving to be difficult, with Ajax demanding a fee in the region of £65m, well above United’s own valuation of the winger.
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While there have been no concrete links to a central striker so far this window for Manchester United, it would be wrong to suggest that there isn’t a need for one at the club, even if Cristiano Ronaldo stays for a second season on his return to Old Trafford.
There is currently no back up for the Portuguese icon that strikes confidence in fans of the club, with Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial both experiencing poor form over the last season.
This raises the question of who could potentially provide the attacking talent that United need at the top end of the pitch.
Timo Werner could very much be the answer to this question, with the German forward far from settled at Premier League rivals Chelsea, following two under-performing seasons.
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While many fans would point to the forward’s relatively poor record of 10 goals in 56 appearances for Chelsea in the Premier League, this doesn’t reveal the striker’s full potential and everything he has to offer an elite level side.
Werner’s Champions League record for both Chelsea and RB Leipzig offers a far better image of the striker, with a collective 15 goals and six assists in 31 Champions League appearances.
Both experience and a proven record in Europe would be extremely valuable for Manchester United, as they look to compete for European silverware under Erik ten Hag, with this returning the club to the standard they achieved under Sir Alex Ferguson.
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In addition to this, Chelsea’s playstyle and system under Thomas Tuchel hasn’t been complimentary of Werner’s better attributes and skillset.
This had made it difficult for Werner to find his form under his fellow countryman, with the forward originally signed under former Chelsea manager, Frank Lampard.
Tuchel’s system of possession based football and numbers in defence fails to utilise Werner’s pace in both attack and defence.
Werner's pace in behind creates problems for defenders in two key ways which would benefit a fast flowing Manchester United side expected under Erik ten Hag.
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Firstly, Werner’s ability to pick the right run in behind the defence draws defenders out of position, with this creating space for the likes of Jadon Sancho and Antony, should United sign him, to exploit. This would be particularly effective in Ten Hag’s preferred 4-3-3 formation, with an attacking midfielder behind Werner able to pick out a pass to three effective options.
This is how the striker has secured the majority of his Chelsea goals, with him creating space in behind for the Chelsea wingers to get in behind, before pulling the ball back into the box for Werner to attack himself.
Secondly, Werner would be able to receive the ball should he catch the defender off-guard or beat him with pace, allowing the German in behind and the opportunity to get a shot off.
These two options would be particularly effective late in a game as defenders tire, with Werner likely to start on the bench should Ronaldo remain at Old Trafford, making the German even more effective.
Furthermore, Werner’s electrifying pace makes him a dangerous prospect on the counter-attack, with Sancho already demonstrating his ability to play on the break with a goal of this nature against Chelsea of all teams last season.
Should Erik ten Hag decide to play with two up top, Werner would be able to adapt effectively to this, having been a part of a two striker partnership at Leipzig in the 2019/20 season, with this being where he found his best form under Julian Nagelsmann.
Defensively, Werner is able to press very well, something that ten Hag is a big proponent of, making Werner fit into a Ten Hag system all the better.
The ability of Premier League teams to press has become increasingly significant in recent seasons, with Liverpool and Manchester City reaping the rewards of successfully executed pressing systems.
Aside from his ability as a player, a move for Werner would make sense for United with an eye to the future, as the German is only 26. This means he would be a long lasting member of any project under ten hag, allowing him time to settle and develop himself further in the Premier League.
Logistically however, signing the striker would likely be a tough challenge for the recruitment team at Old Trafford, with Chelsea already allowing striker Romelu Lukaku to leave the club on loan in a return to Inter Milan.
In addition to this, Chelsea signed Werner for approximately £50m in the 2019/20 summer window, meaning they would want to recoup the majority of this fee, if not make a profit.
This would be a challenge for United who are appearing to have a restricted budget this summer, whilst also pursuing Frenkie de Jong and Antony respectively.
The likelihood of signing Timo Werner is therefore relatively low, regardless of how well he would fit into a Ten Hag team.
United fans will be hoping that even if Werner isn’t to join the club, a number of signings will be made to add quality to a squad in desperate need of some.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Manchester United Transfer News & Rumours, Manchester United, Transfers, Chelsea, Timo Werner, Erik Ten Hag, RB Leipzig, Premier League, Football
