It’s almost impossible to tell how accurate reports are in football these days, so most claims do seem to be taken with a pinch of salt.
The news broke that Liverpool were refusing to pay the release clause for Timo Werner and would only make a move to sign him if RB Leipzig reduced their asking price, so that appeared to put an end to this story:
Liverpool refuse to pay £50m Timo Werner release clause, and turn their back on deal completely unless price is dropped dramatically #LFC ???
https://t.co/Eic3Rqu72y— David Maddock (@MaddockMirror) May 27, 2020
The problem is that this could simply be a ploy to try and give them more leverage in negotiations, and examples from the past do suggest that this isn’t the end of their interest:
We had no interest in signing Alisson.
We withdrew interest in signing Van Dijk.
We didn’t want to pay for Naby Keita.Welcome to LFC Timo Werner https://t.co/gC9KBNmsBb
— Tom O’Donoghue (@TNODonoghue) May 27, 2020
In fact it actually looks like this news has just further convinced a few Liverpool fans that Werner will be moving to Anfield this summer:
Reading this makes me more confident we’ll sign him
— Josh (@KloppStyle) May 27, 2020
He will become a Reds player. Payments can be staged, perhaps a middle ground on a final fee etc. The stance makes sense and perhaps RB may just accept it and get a deal themselves on their purchase. Deal to be done though for sure
— PRITCH (@PRITCHNEWS) May 27, 2020
Just remember that this is the Mirror, and also, we pulled out of VVD and were never interested in Alisson and Fabinho; then look what happened ? have faith
— James (@James_Cutting) May 27, 2020
Meaning Liverpool about to sign him.
— Top 4 (@FCChelseaViews) May 27, 2020
If maddock says it won’t happen it’ll happen. I doubted we’d get him till now, Pretty sure everyone trusts Klopp but not FSG
— PL WINNERS SZN??? (@Dara_Goulding) May 27, 2020
Yeah right! Good tactics to try to lower the price. Seen it before. He’ll be a red.
— Jimmy (@bobbyjiminho) May 27, 2020
You do have to wonder if Liverpool actually need him as he’ll probably be a back up to Roberto Firmino if he does sign, so it will be interesting to see what happens next.