RB Leipzig star Timo Werner is expected to join Chelsea this summer, if reports from England and Germany are to be believed.
On June 9th, Sky Germany explained the Blues are the ‘only option’ for the 24-year-old.
Ralph Hasenhüttl spent two seasons with the Bundesliga side and the Southampton manager signed the forward in his first transfer window at Leipzig in 2016.
The Germany international can leave his current employer to join Frank Lampard’s side for a fee in excess of €50m.
Hasenhüttl has given an interview to SportBild and the Saints coach was asked whether his former player is worth the money, and also about Chelsea’s plans.
Responding to that, he said: “I always struggle with these figures. Chelsea have big plans and have to win titles again. And strikers who score at the front cost a lot of money.
“It was not normal for us [RB Leipzig in 2016] to get him at the time for €10m. After that, many were annoyed when he developed so well.”
The Austrian trained Werner for two seasons, with the latter scoring 42 goals and registering 17 assists in all competitions during that period.
Hasenhüttl knows the player first hand and he has explained what Chelsea and their fans can expect from the attacker, if he makes a switch to Stamford Bridge.
“A very physical player, good on one-on-one. What they don’t like here are players who roll away or act. Football is very intense and fast. This in turn suits Timo: With his speed he is a brutal weapon in the right team,” Hasenhüttl said.
The Southampton boss has backed Werner to succeed in the Premier League, if he signs for Chelsea.
“Timo is a player who needs a shoulder to lean on, or a little more encouragement. But what I always liked about him is that he scores goals that nobody else scores,” he stressed.
“Give him some space and it’s hard to stop him. Getting through elsewhere as a striker is only difficult if you don’t immediately show that you have qualities. But I’m not worried about him at all.”
