Man Utd want £53m Chelsea flop in shock January transfer but surprised fans say ‘tell me this is a joke’

Man Utd want £53m Chelsea flop in shock January transfer but surprised fans say ‘tell me this is a joke’

MANCHESTER UNITED have inquired about signing former Chelsea forward Timo Werner, according to shock reports in Germany.

Erik ten Hag is in the market for striking reinforcements with £72million summer signing Rasmus Hojlund still without a Premier League goal.

And according to Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, RB Leipzig’s Werner is on the Old Trafford boss’ wishlist.

It is claimed United have already asked Leipzig about the striker’s availability, but formal negotiations have yet to take place.

Werner signed for Chelsea in 2020 for £53million and he struggled during his two years in West London.

He managed only 23 goals in 89 matches – but did help the Blues to the Champions League trophy in 2021.

Werner was sold back to Leipzig in the summer of 2022 for £23.5m and he notched 16 goals in his 40 games.

But the attacker – who can play centrally or out wide – has scored just twice this term after 13 matches in all competitions.

The 27-year-old is believed to be unsettled again in the Bundesliga, leading to rumours of a return to the Premier League.

Werner is understood to be ready to see out the remainder of the season but the likes of West Ham and Fulham have also been linked.

Real Madrid are also apparently monitoring but now United are the latest big name side to register an interest in Werner – much to the shock of fans.

One disappointed Red Devils fan wrote: “I’m not a fan of this.”

Another added: “Tell me that’s a joke.”

However, given United’s struggles in front of goal this season, others were willing to give Werner a chance.

One argued: “I’d take him all day.”

A second agreed: “I’d take this happily.”

United are in desperate need of goals having scored only 16 so far in 13 Prem games.

Hojlund is goalless domestically, despite five goals in the Champions League, with Scott McTominay and Bruno Fernandes instead United’s top league scorers with only three each.

Marcus Rashford is the only other player with more than one