RB Leipzig have reportedly agreed a deal to re-sign Chelsea striker Timo Werner on a permanent basis.
The Germany international earned a £47.7m move to Stamford Bridge in 2020 following his prolific showings in the Bundesliga but has been unable to replicate his form in the English capital.
Werner only found the back of the net four times in the Premier League last season but still boasts a respectable record of 23 goals and 21 assists in 89 appearances for the Blues.
Nevertheless, the 26-year-old has been unable to impose himself on a consistent basis and allegedly told the Blues board that he wanted to leave earlier in the window.
Arsenal, Real Madrid and Newcastle United had all been linked with a move for Werner, who still has three years left to run on his Stamford Bridge contract.
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Now, journalist Florian Plettenburg claims that Werner is on the verge of sealing a return to Leipzig after a breakthrough in negotiations over the past few days.
Plettenburg adds that Werner has been pining for a return to the Red Bull Arena two years after his exit, and a transfer should be made official later this week.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano adds that the striker will head back to Leipzig on a permanent basis rather than an initial loan move, and he agreed personal terms with Die Roten Bullen over a month ago.
Werner leaves Chelsea having won the Champions League, Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup during his time at the club, but he was not involved in Saturday's opening Premier League win over Everton due to a muscular injury.
The former Stuttgart youngster has been on the hunt for regular game time ahead of the 2022 World Cup and previously hit 95 goals and 33 assists in 157 outings during his first spell at Leipzig.
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Domenico Tedesco refused to be drawn into the speculation surrounding Werner's future when questioned earlier this summer, but striker Yussuf Poulsen openly admitted that he wanted the German to return.
"I hope he is coming back, he is a good player. We are a team that are trying to take the next step and develop into one of the biggest clubs in Europe. You need quality players for that. We formed a good partnership in the past." Poulsen told a press conference.
Werner would follow a plethora of Chelsea players to leave the club this summer, including the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rudiger, Danny Drinkwater and Charly Musonda.
The Germany international's exit could accelerate Chelsea's efforts to sign a new striker, and Blues boss Thomas Tuchel is supposedly open to reuniting with Barcelona's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Ben Knapton
