Timo Werner future at Tottenham already in doubt, ‘excellent’ Raphinha transfer on the cards
Timo Werner’s long-term future at Tottenham is now in question with the club thought to be eyeing a move for Barcelona’s Raphinha, according to Paul Robinson.
The former Chelsea forward arrived on loan from RB Leipzig in January in a deal that the pundit saw as an ideal low-risk option in the circumstances.
His move has a £15million option attached [Sky Sports, 10 January] but, after Paul O Keefe reported via Twitter on 5 February that ex-Leeds United star Raphinha was a summer target for Spurs, Robinson feels it would likely push Werner out of the squad.
The former England keeper would expect the Brazilian to primarily function as a wide forward and, provided Ange Postecoglou is confident in the 27-year-old’s attitude fits, has backed the possible transfer as an “excellent” one.
Speaking exclusively to Tottenham News he said: “Whether he was to come in alongside the current squad, if a player like that was to come in you’d question the long-term future of Timo Werner because there’s only so many wide attacking midfielders that you can have without hoarding too many.
“If he comes in that’s an addition to play as a nine as well. Can’t really see it with Sonny [Son Heung-min] coming back and playing in there, but to add him to the squad and have him and your disposal yeah he’d been an excellent player if the attitude and the application is right, and I can’t see it being any other way under Postecoglou.”
Barcelona ace to replace Timo Werner at Tottenham this summer?
Werner immediately started his first five Spurs matches in all competitions and provided an assist each against Manchester United and Brentford in the Premier League.
But he dropped to the bench for the first time for the defeat at home to Wolves at the weekend, and may be viewed as a stop-gap solution at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, especially as the club attempted to seal a move for Antonio Nusa before it was hijacked by Brentford last month.
Postecoglou needed numbers with Son away at the Asian Cup and the likes of James Maddison injured, but if a big-money summer move for Raphinha is now being eyed up already then it suggests the option in Werner’s loan agreement isn’t likely to be activated.
In other Tottenham news, the manager was too late to prevent one player from throwing away his previous good work against Wolves.
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