Yahoo News How Frank Lampard helped Chelsea pull off stunning Timo Werner transfer
Frank Lampard's phone calls to Timo Werner paved the way for Chelsea to leapfrog Liverpool for the German international's signature.
The Blues are set to complete a £53million deal for the RB Leipzig forward next week, with Werner joining on a long-term contract worth a reported £9million-a-year, making him one of the club's highest-earners after bonuses.
Werner had made clear his desire to join Liverpool, but after the champions elect proved unwilling to meet his release clause, Chelsea swooped thanks to quick work from transfer chief Marina Granovskaia and Lampard's personal interventions.
The Chelsea boss detailed to Werner exactly how he would fit into his plans, offering the 24-year-old the chance to immediately play a far more significant role in west London than Jurgen Klopp could have offered him at Anfield given the quality of the Reds' front three of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.
Werner's signing proves a major coup for Lampard, who has made his intentions as Chelsea manager clear from the off.
From the day of his first press conference almost a year ago, Chelsea's all-time top goalscorer has had Manchester City and Liverpool firmly in his sights.
The club's transfer ban presented Lampard with a golden opportunity to turn to youth and blood the likes of Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount and Reece James, a trio who could form the core of a successful side for years to come. But as a player at Stamford Bridge, Lampard was never comfortable without fresh competition to push him to his limit and the club to the top, and he wants the same in his squad.
In spending more than £90million on Hakim Ziyech, the Moroccan winger recruited from Ajax in February, and now Werner, Chelsea are throwing their full weight behind Lampard's vision.
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