Werner Would’ve Helped When AFCON Calls For Mane, Salah – Carragher

Jamie Carragher has come out to say that Liverpool will regret their decision to not sign RB Leipzig striker, Timo Werner.

Carragher recently revealed that the German striker could have been key to their hopes of sustaining their success next season.

According to him, even if Liverpool’s front three are as good as anything in the world right now, Werner would’ve contributed immensely in a lot of games next season in the absence of key stars.

He added that the fact that the AFCON matches will take players like Mane and Salah from Liverpool from time means Werner would’ve been a good option for squad rotation in the team.

His words, “Without the pandemic, I’m sure Liverpool would have signed Werner,”

“Everyone knows that Liverpool’s front three are as good as anything in the world right now, but Werner would have played a lot of games next season.

“There were suggestions that he was unsure over a move to Liverpool because he might not play every week, but look at what is coming up next season and it highlights why it would have been very difficult for Klopp to convince him to come and assure him that he would play a lot of matches.

“There was due to be an Olympics this summer and Mo Salah was due to play in that, which would have meant he missed the start of next season.

“After that, Salah and Mane are due to play in the African Cup of Nations next February, which means Liverpool will need back-up players to play for long periods. That is before you throw in squad rotation and injuries.

“So there would have been opportunities for Timo Werner to play in the first team in a regular basis. He could have started 10 or 12 games guaranteed and you are talking about 25 or 30 games overall with everything I have mentioned.

“With the Olympics not happening this summer, doubts over whether the African Cup of Nations will go ahead and the financial hit Liverpool have taken due to the pandemic, the decision was made not to sign Werner, but I would like to have seen them push through with the deal. It clearly looked like the player wanted to come to Liverpool.”

On the pandemic, “All teams are going to take a hit financially this summer and it will have an impact on the transfer market,”

“There are a few big deals going on at the moment, but only with a few clubs and Chelsea look like they are in for most of the players who might move.

“They had a transfer ban last summer and still have the (Eden) Hazard and (Alvaro) Morata money to spend. Chelsea are going to have a right go this season and they have an opportunity to make some ground on Liverpool if they are not going to be spending too much.”