Is Bayern Munich reconsidering Timo Werner for the near future?

With Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland’s future looking increasingly like it is going to be settled outside of the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich might be looking at an old foe as part of its next generation plan to take over for Robert Lewandowski: Chelsea forward and former RB Leipzig star Timo Werner.

Tz compiled a number of reports from different outlets in lining up why Werner might have worked his way back into Bayern Munich’s shadow team:

Robert Lewandowski is actually still too good to even think about a successor. At Bayern, however, they are slowly starting to do it, the Pole is already 32-years-old. Erling Haaland seems to be predestined for it, the BVB striker is in principle already world class at the age of 20. But there are several reasons against a transfer.

Because it can be assumed that Lewandowski will still play at the top level for at least two to three years, a Haaland transfer would make no sense at the moment — neither for the club nor for the player. In addition, the Norwegian apparently does not want to change within the Bundesliga, he is more likely to go abroad, as Sky reports.

How quickly could Bayern Munich make a move for Werner? Per Tz, potentially this summer:

Even if coach Hansi Flick does not want to rule out such a mega transfer (for Haaland), the dream will probably not come true for the time being. Will the record champions use England instead? Timo Werner, a national player, could become a real option in the summer.

According to the English Internet portal Football Insider, the German is on the hit list after his bad start at Chelsea. There was only one goal in 18 games — too little for the top club’s claims. In the report, the portal refers to “sources close to the club.” Apparently, few at Chelsea still believe in his breakthrough, so he should flirt with a return to his home country.

Would Werner be the optimal Lewandowski backup for FC Bayern? At least it would be the cheaper alternative to Haaland. But if he cannot improve his performance, Hasan Salihamidzic will probably not pick up the phone either.

Werner, of course, has a big proponent in Bayern Munich manager Hansi Flick, who actually wanted to bring Werner to Bavaria last summer.

Photo by Chris Lee - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images

The timing of this particular story is curious given the multitude of transfer rumors being bandied about involving Chelsea and Bayern Munich — and with Flick’s name allegedly being in the mix to succeed Joachim Löw as Germany’s manager. Flick, of course, has reportedly been unhappy at times over the lack of input he has had in personnel moves.

Anyway, if you lost track of all of the Bayern Munich-Chelsea transfer connections, here is a summary:

• Chelsea might want David Alaba
• Chelsea might want Kingsley Coman
• Chelsea might want Jerome Boateng
• Bayern Munich might want Christian Pulisic
• Bayern Munich might want Timo Werner

You could even circle back to the old rumors of Bayern Munich sporting director Hasan “Brazzo” Salihamidzic’s reported fascination with Callum Hudson-Odoi if you really wanted to.

At this stage, some chips would have to fall for Bayern Munich to leap back into the hunt for Werner. Across the frontline, Bayern Munich is expected to only lose Douglas Costa, but Lewandowski’s current back-up, pending free agent Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, could be brought back for a nominal salary if he does not opt to exit Säbener Straße.

Should Choupo-Moting’s deal not get extended — and Coman actually leave this summer (that is admittedly a big if for 2021) — Bayern Munich could potentially eye moves for Pulisic, Werner, or both. Bayern Munich has been heavily linked to both players in the past.

As stated, though, there would have to be a lot of roster movement — and the price would have to be right — for anything to happen in the summer of 2021 involving Coman, Werner, or Pulisic being involved in transfer business between Bayern Munch and Chelsea.