Report: Ex-Chelsea flop Werner set for EPL return as Spurs seal loan deal

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Tottenham Hotspur are signing RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner on loan, according to The Athletic's David Ornstein.

The deal reportedly includes an option to buy worth as much as €20 million.

Spurs are expected to cover the remainder of Werner's salary for the season.

The German will offer manager Ange Postecoglou immediate relief in the absence of Son Heung-min, who could miss up to six matches while away at the Asian Cup with the Republic of Korea.

Werner returns to the Premier League after a brief and unsuccessful spell at Chelsea. The 27-year-old joined the Blues from Leipzig in June 2020 for a reported €53 million but struggled to shoulder the club's scoring burden. He managed just 23 goals in 89 appearances before returning to Leipzig in 2022.

The move back to Germany didn't exactly revitalize his career. After scoring in his second debut for Leipzig and bagging a first-half hat-trick in his fourth match back, Werner struggled to produce consistently and eventually lost playing time under manager Marco Rose.

Werner has made just four stats across all competitions this season.

"It's right that Timo wants to go on loan," Rose told Sky Sports DE's Philipp Hinze. "Timo would like to go to the European Championships (with Germany). We wish him all the best and are keeping our fingers crossed for him."

Werner is set to become Spurs' first signing of the January transfer window. The north London side has always been heavily linked with Genoa defender Radu Dragusin.