Why Manchester United failed to sign Timo Werner ‘revealed’

Manchester United can’t decide on the kind of player they want — Fabrizio Romano.

Tottenham Hotspur appears to have secured a significant coup in the January transfer window as RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner edges closer to a loan move, reportedly choosing Spurs over Manchester United.

The 27-year-old German forward is poised to return to English football after his tenure with Chelsea, where he spent two years, netting 23 goals in 89 appearances.

His time at Stamford Bridge saw him clinch the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup before heading back to RB Leipzig for a reported fee of £25.3m, marking a loss for Chelsea against the £47.5m they initially paid for him in 2020.

The North London club, under Ange Postecoglou, is positioning itself to acquire Werner on a loan deal with an option to make it permanent at the end of the season.

This move aims to bolster their attacking force, especially after Harry Kane’s departure to Bayern Munich last summer and the injury setback suffered by James Maddison, coupled with Son Heung-min’s ongoing duty with South Korea at the Asia Cup.

While Spurs secured Timo Werner’s signing, Manchester United’s interest in Werner no secret and if anything, was only overshadowed by their hesitation.

The Red Devils, who brought in Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta during the summer, have encountered challenges in finding consistent goal-scoring form within their attacking lineup.

Reports suggest that Manchester United contemplated Werner as an option but ultimately decided against pursuing the transfer.

Notably, renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano shed light on the reason behind United’s reluctance, citing their uncertainty about the specific type of player they seek to bring in.

Romano remarked to Caught Offside,

“It’s a loan, Spurs have a buy option but not mandatory so they can get a look at the player before committing. Timo is super hungry as he believes this is a great opportunity for him.

“Manchester United also considered Werner as a possibility but then they decided not to proceed also because it’s not clear yet what kind of player they want.”