Timo Werner permanent deal 'dead in the water' amid Tottenham development
Timo Werner's potential permanent move to Tottenham this summer may already be "dead in the water", according to Alan Hutton.
The German forward joined the ranks in Ange Postecoglou's side on loan during the summer transfer window and had a mixed spell in North London, scoring two goals and laying on three assits in just 13 Premier League games.
Werner's move to Spurs included an option to make the deal permanent for around £15million this summer [Sky Sports, 10 January] and while the 28-year-old has expressed his desire to stay, there have been no concrete updates from either RB Leipzig or the Lilywhites.
Although Spurs still have time to activate the clause in their agreement with the Bundesliga side, Hutton believes the lack of noise from either club could mean that a permanent switch is already off of the cards.
"I think it might be dead in the water," Hutton told Tottenham News.
"Normally, you would have heard by now, especially if he went and had a really good end to the season or even hit the ground running in the five or six months he was here which he did at times. I thought that he could have done more, he was a little bit inconsistent, especially in front of goal.
"You would have thought the two clubs or the agents of the clubs would have had that conversation by now so that the player knows where he is leaning towards come to the start of pre-season.
"But we've not really heard anything and it has kind of all went quiet which makes me think it's not going to happen.
"I'm sure if that's an area Tottenham are looking to strengthen, they'll have other options and maybe they think that will be better at the moment."
Will Tottenham and Ange Postecoglou sign Timo Werner permanently in the summer transfer window?
It is clear that Spurs are eager to bring in new forwards this summer, with Postecoglou already admitting that he is keen to refresh his squad come the end of the season after a disappointing end to the campaign.
There is an expectation that players will move away from North London, with the likes of Richarlison and Son Heung-min already being linked with the exit door but it appears as though Werner could be another star to make way.
While there have been glimmers of the German international's quality during his loan spell this term, he hasn't quite managed to show that ruthless streak in front of goal that could fire Spurs back into the top four.
There may be a feeling around Postecoglou and Daniel Levy that the £15million that would be spent on the 28-year-old could be better invested in alternative targets.
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