Chelsea have reportedly offered Timo Werner as part of a deal to sign Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund this summer.
However, Dortmund are only prepared to let Haaland leave in this window in a straight cash deal. The Norwegian striker is Chelsea’s main forward target this summer.
Haaland’s astonishing goal record at Dortmund has attracted interest from a host of top clubs across Europe.
But Dortmund are wanting around £150million for the 21-year-old former Red Bull Salzburg star.
Haaland has a release clause in his contract that becomes active in the summer of 2022 which would let him leave for around half of Dortmund’s current asking price.
But Chelsea are attempting to jump to the front of the queue and secure a deal in this window.
Speaking on Reach PLC’s Transfer Window podcast, Ian McGarry says Chelsea have attempted to use Werner as part of the deal to bring down the cash payment.
Werner had a poor first season at Stamford Bridge following his arrival from RB Leipzig.
McGarry said: “It is our understanding that Timo Werner was offered as part of a deal for Haaland, therefore obviously negating part of the fee in terms of the quite substantial amount Dortmund are quoting for Haaland, in excess of €150m at this point.
“I’m told that Werner, unlike [Kai] Havertz, has not adapted well to life in England.
“He has not assimilated himself necessarily very well, he’s quite an introverted character, Havertz is quite extrovert. It just hasn’t happened for him.”
Werner is not the only Chelsea player who has been linked with being a part of a deal for Haaland.
Earlier this summer, Tammy Abraham and Callum Hudson-Odoi were both proposed as potential makeweights in the transfer.
However, McGarry says Dortmund are not willing to accept any players in exchange and want a straight cash deal for their frontman.
He added: “I’m told that Dortmund want cash only.
“But I suppose that’s not really a surprise that Werner was offered because the club know they’ve got a difficult task ahead of them to get him into his best form and the player himself needs to convince himself that that is going to happen for him.”