Timo Werner ‘rejected Manchester City after Pep Guardiola PHONED him’ before making move to Chelsea

Timo Werner ‘rejected Manchester City after Pep Guardiola personally PHONED him to prise him to the club’ before making £53m move to Chelsea

  • Timo Werner completed a move to Chelsea from RB Leipzig earlier this summer
  • The 24-year-old striker was also wanted by Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City  
  • Reports in Germany claim Guardiola called Werner personally about a move
  • The German was not guaranteed a starting spot so he rejected the City offer 

Timo Werner rejected the chance to move to Manchester City after Pep Guardiola called him up to discuss a potential move, according to reports.

The German international forward recently moved to Chelsea after the west Londoners paid £53million for the RB Leipzig star earlier this summer. 

However, reports in Germany claimed City were keen on signing the 24-year-old who scored 34 goals in 45 matches for the Bundesliga side last season.

Timo Werner rejected a move to Manchester City this summer after Pep Guardiola called him

Reports in Germany said the City boss (above) called the striker over a potential transfer

Reports in Germany said the City boss (above) called the striker over a potential transfer

And according to BILD, Guardiola called Werner up to try and convince him to reject Chelsea and move to Manchester, but the forward turned down the offer as he was guaranteed more game time up front at Stamford Bridge.

Premier League rivals Liverpool and Manchester United were also keen on signing Werner this summer, but the young striker’s heart was set on a move to London.  

City currently have plenty of attacking options already at the club, with record goalscorer Sergio Aguero competing alongside young Brazilian prodigy Gabriel Jesus for a starting spot. 

Guardiola also has Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez and new signing Ferran Torres to call upon in the wide areas, with Werner also capable of playing on the left-hand side. 

But Guardiola was unable to convince Werner to join as he couldn't guarantee a starting spot

But Guardiola was unable to convince Werner to join as he couldn’t guarantee a starting spot

Chelsea, meanwhile, had to deal with several inconsistent strikers last season, with Tammy Abraham, Olivier Giroud and Michy Batshuayi all failing to hold down a regular spot in the team. 

Werner is part of a £200million overhaul by Blues head coach Frank Lampard this summer, as Ajax’s Hakim Ziyech, PSG captain Thiago Silva, Leicester City full-back Ben Chilwell and Nice youngster Malang Sarr have all arrived at Stamford Bridge during the current transfer window.

Lampard is set to add more attacking talent to his squad this summer, with Bayer Leverkusen forward Kai Havertz on the brink of joining the team. 

Werner (right) then joined Chelsea as part of Frank Lampard's £200million summer spree

Werner (right) then joined Chelsea as part of Frank Lampard’s £200million summer spree

Werner has featured in pre-season matches for Chelsea so far this summer and scored just four minutes into his debut appearance for the club in a 1-1 draw away at Brighton and Hove Albion in August. 

He will be returning to the Amex Stadium on September 14 for his domestic debut as the Blues open their Premier League fixture calendar on the Monday evening. 

The striker showed he was in the goalscoring mood ahead of the new campaign but netting the opener in Germany’s Nations League draw with Spain on Thursday night.  

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk