Timo Werner: Mesut Ozil, Michael Ballack and the other greatest Germans to play in the Premier League as RB Leipzig star edges closer to Chelsea switch
One of the big transfer stories of the past few months looks to be coming to a conclusion with Timo Werner set to arrive in the Premier League.
Liverpool were thought to be favourites to sign the RB Leipzig forward, but there’s been a huge twist in the saga as Chelsea have taken advantage of the Reds’ hesitancy to reportedly activate his £53million release clause.
Chelsea appear to have won the race to sign Werner, who has 31 goals in 40 appearances for Leipzig this season
The Blues have agreed terms to sign Werner, who is set to put pen to paper on a contract worth £200,000-a-week.
Should the deal go through, it would be a massive coup for Frank Lampard’s side, who already have Hakim Ziyech arriving from Ajax in the summer.
Meanwhile, Werner is set to be the latest star in a long line of Germans to play in the Premier League.
talkSPORT.com has taken a look at the best Germans to grace the top flight since the 1992/93 season.
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Michael Ballack
Chelsea have looked to German talent in the past and they got their hands on one of the nation’s best players in 21st century in Ballack.
He joined from Bayern Munich, adding to Chelsea’s already brilliant midfield which had the likes of Frank Lampard and Michael Essien in it.
Ballack joined the Blues in their pomp but had to wait until his final season at Stamford Bridge to win a Premier League title in 2010. He also won three FA Cups and a League Cup during his four-year stay at Chelsea.
Ballack joined Chelsea from Bayern on a free transfer
Ilkay Gundogan
Having had some back luck with injuries over his career, it would be easy for Gundogan’s career to have tailed off as he approaches his 30th birthday.
But the Manchester City man looks as strong as ever and is a key player in a side that has winning in its DNA.
Gundogan has two Premier Leagues, three League Cups and an FA Cup at City and you wouldn’t be surprised if he adds more honours to his collection when the 2019/20 season restarts.
Gundogan and City could win the Champions League and FA Cup having already won the Carabao Cup this term
Robert Huth
You may raise your eyebrows at this one as Huth didn’t play much of a role in helping Chelsea win the Premier League in 2005 and 2006.
He had spells at Middlesbrough and Stoke in the top flight but didn’t do anything noteworthy.
However, the defender gets in this shortlist for being a key part of the Leicester squad that incredibly won the Premier League title in 2015/16.
He had a formidable partnership with captain Wes Morgan and Huth’s three goals that season came in big games – a winner against Leicester’s main rivals for the title Tottenham and an excellent brace against Man City.
Huth was in the Premier League for 16 years but will be remembered for that one spectacular season at Leicester
Jurgen Klinsmann
His iconic dive celebration would have been enough to get Klinsmann in alone but he did also play very well in his two spells at Spurs.
Klinsmann was only at the north London club for one full season (1994/95) but still managed scoop up the Football Writers’ Association’s Player of the Year award after knocking in 20 goals.
He returned to Spurs on loan for a second spell in 1998, with his nine goals steering the club away from relegation.
Jens Lehmann
The crazy keeper may be better remembered for his comical clash with Didier Drogba in December 2006, but Lehmann had a lot of ability.
He was signed as David Seaman’s replacement so very big gloves to fill but was more than up for the challenge, winning the Premier League in his first season where the Gunners famously went unbeaten for the entire league campaign.
That was essentially as good as it got for Lehmann, who left the club in 2008, in England but he’s still looked back on fondly by Gooners now.
Arsenal arguably haven’t had a keeper as good as Lehmann since
Mesut Ozil
He may frustrate the life out of Arsenal fans sometimes for a lack of effort, but there’s no denying how talented he is and Ozil is arguably the most talented German to ever grace the Premier League.
Ozil has 33 goals and 54 assists in 184 Premier League appearances which is a decent return.
He won Arsenal’s Player of the Season award in 2015/16. However, he probably should have achieved more than he has in his seven years at the club.
His relationship with Germany has been a complicated one – and he retired in 2018 alleging discrimination and disrespect from the German Football Association due to his Turkish descent.
Ozil joined Arsenal from Real Madrid in 2013 for £42m
Antonio Rudiger
The video unveiling Rudiger as a Chelsea player is woeful but also hilarious in equal measure, however, he’s a player of serious importance in the squad.
Rudiger is Chelsea’s best defender currently playing and has won the FA Cup and Europa League with them.
He reportedly playing a crucial role in convincing Werner to go to Stamford Bridge so he’s doing crucial work for Chelsea on and off the pitch.
Leroy Sane
He didn’t do a great deal in his first season at City and has been dogged by injury this term but Sane has been excellent when getting a run of games.
Sane was at his best in the 2017/18 season where he scooped up the Young Player of the Season award. Amazingly, that wasn’t enough to get him into Germany’s World Cup squad.
The winger has been linked with a move to Bayern Munich but City are understood to value him at around £72m.
Sane is currently recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained in August
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