RB Leipzig Managing Director Oliver Mintzlaff has distanced himself from rumours Timo Werner is on the verge of a move to Chelsea.
News this week broke that Chelsea had made a definitive move to sign Werner this summer and secure him on a cut-price deal before the end of the month.
The Leipzig striker, who has been in red-hot form once again this season, has a release clause in his contract that means he is available for €50-60m before June 15th.
It had looked like Liverpool would be the ones to activate that clause at some point having been linked for months before Bild revealed earlier this week that it was, in fact, Chelsea who were closing in on him.
The newspaper claimed they were ready to activate his clause at some point in the next week and Werner had already agreed to a five-year deal worth €10m a season after being given assurances by Chelsea.
Every indication was that the transfer was in the last stages, but Mintzlaff claims that they have not held any contact with Frank Lampard’s side.
“We are concentrating on the final sprint of the league, that is the only thing we are currently discussing with Timo,” he told Sky Sports Germany.
“It was important for us that we extend the contract with him. Of course, there was this exit clause that we put in the contract to give him the opportunity to take the next step.
“Now Timo Werner is sitting in the driver’s seat, not us anymore.
“So far, Werner has not drawn the clause, nor has any club sent us a transfer contract.
“Accordingly, we have nothing to report. Timo Werner is a player from RB Leipzig. He signalled a few weeks ago that he was busy with a transfer. Until now, nothing is dry. “
