Antonio Rudiger has revealed how he helped persuade Timo Werner to snub Liverpool in favour of a transfer to Stamford Bridge.
The Chelsea defender will probably be joined by fellow German compatriot Werner on the membership subsequent season after the striker sealed his £53million transfer from Red Bull Leipzig.
Werner was eager on a switch to Anfield previous to the deal being accomplished, but it surely appears Rudiger’s phrases satisfied his worldwide teammate to affix him in London.
“Like everyone, I’m very excited that he’s chosen Chelsea and I’m looking forward to working with him,” Rudiger advised Chelsea’s web site. “I’ve known him since he was 17 and he did very good in the past few years. He can be very important for us.
(Image: REUTERS)
“I did speak to him before because we have known each other for a long time.
“We spoke quite a bit throughout the lockdown and he advised me he was taken with coming to England. Of course then I did my bit, what I needed to do.”
Liverpool were interested in signing Werner but failed to meet the demands of Leipzig, missing out on his signature to Chelsea as a result.
The 24-year-old had already expressed concerns over playing time if he were to join Jurgen Klopp’s champions-elect though.
Chelsea were able to offer the player first-team football, and Rudiger feels Werner can be a great asset to the club once he finds his feet.
“I might say he’s a quiet, humble man, all the time able to do higher,” Rudiger said.
“I hope he adapts in a short time when he comes as a result of as everyone knows this competitors is completely different than others.”
Werner certainly comes with a proven track record, having already scored 32 goals for Leipzig next season while impressing with his running in behind opposition defences.
Rudiger added: “His development was just ‘wow’. In his first season everything was new for him in men’s football but then he started scoring more goals and of course with that comes confidence.”
“He had very good coaches who believed in him and worked with him.
“He’s a very huge risk to defenders. RB Leipzig is a extra counter-attacking workforce however when it comes to attacking the defensive position, he’s just like [Leicester’s Jamie] Vardy. He has plenty of tempo and if the defender makes a mistake and loses the ball, then he goes!”
Sign as much as the Mirror Football electronic mail right here for the newest information and switch gossip.
