Struggling Tottenham Hotspur attacker Timo Werner is reportedly on the radar of MLS outfit New York Red Bulls as he looks to end his North London nightmare.
The RB Leipzig-owned man played his way into a full-season loan at Tottenham after some positive displays in the second half of the 2023-24 campaign, but his return to English shores has not worked out for either club or player.
Werner has scored just one goal in 26 appearances this season - which came against Manchester City in the EFL Cup - in addition to setting up three strikes in the Premier League.
Both club captain Son Heung-min and 17-year-old Mikey Moore are outshining Werner on the left wing, and the former Chelsea man - who is currently out with a hamstring problem - has just four top-flight starts to his name this season.
Werner was also memorably singled out for criticism by Ange Postecoglou in the wake of last month's Europa League draw with Rangers, where he was hauled off at half time, and Spurs are not expected to take up their option to sign him permanently.
Werner to be offered MLS escape route?
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Due to the winger's prolonged troubles in North London, an early return to Leipzig had been mooted, but Werner's parent club supposedly have no intention of welcoming him back to the Red Bull Arena in January.
Instead, Foot Mercato claims that Werner could find safe haven in North America, as the Germany international is apparently in talks to sign for New York Red Bulls in the coming weeks.
It is unclear whether a prospective transfer would be a loan or a permanent deal, although it would be a complicated operation to carry out, as Leipzig would first need to sever his Spurs loan before striking an accord with the Red Bulls.
However, as both the Bundesliga and MLS club operate under the same Red Bull umbrella, their shared ownership could prove crucial in negotiations, assuming that Werner is open to taking on a new challenge in the USA.
The 28-year-old has registered 113 goals and 47 assists in 213 appearances for Leipzig across two separate spells, but he is only under contract with Die Roten Bullen for another 18 months.
Is there an argument for Tottenham to keep Werner?
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Werner should be the first to accept that he has not hit the heights expected of him at Spurs, but Postecoglou does not exactly have attackers coming out of his ears at the minute.
As well as Werner - whose hamstring problem is expected to keep him out for another couple of weeks - Spurs are also without Brennan Johnson and Dominic Solanke, the latter of whom will miss six weeks with a knee issue.
Solanke's absence means that Postecoglou is only working with two fit centre-forwards in Richarlison - who is also incredibly injury-prone - and 19-year-old Will Lankshear, who could still leave on loan this month.
Tottenham appear no closer to making an outfield signing this month, meaning that Werner might be the next best thing in the centre-forward role or left-hand side if Richarlison and Solanke are both out at the same time.
The German's exit might also free up some useful space on the wage bill for a new face, though, so Postecoglou and Daniel Levy have some critical thinking to do with this transfer situation.
Ben Knapton
