Frank Lampard and Petr Cech made trip to Germany to convince Timo Werner to join Chelsea
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard and sporting director Petr Cech made an ‘undercover’ trip to Germany to help the Blues pip their Premier League rivals to the signing of Timo Werner.
The highly sought-after RB Leipzig striker has agreed in principle to join Chelsea in a stunning deal worth £53million move on wages of £180,000-a-week.
The German international was also being courted by Liverpool and Manchester United, but opted for the West London club after former Lampard and Cech added a personal touch in their efforts to securing him.
Manager Frank Lampard joined Petr Cech and massively impressed Timo Werner
Sought-after Werner agreed a deal in principle to join the West London club this week
According to the Telegraph, the former team-mates, now in charge at Stamford Bridge, laid out their plans for the manager’s vision of how Werner would fit into the team, which massively impressed the striker.
The Chelsea pair were similarly impressed and contact between the trio continued after the trip, which took place just before the global coronavirus lockdown.
The report indicates Werner’s clear understanding of Chelsea’s plan for him swung the deal in their favour.
A pre-lockdown to Germany by Cech helped Chelsea persuade Werner to agree to sign
It is believed that Cech played a key part, as his fluent German speaking helped with communications to the 24-year-old’s father and agent.
Liverpool were hot favourites to secure Werner’s signature before the COVID-19 pandemic after a possible £50m release clause in his contract, but the disruption made the Merseyside club wary over overspending.
Chelsea found themselves in a more comfortable financial position due to their transfer ban capping their spend, as well as the sale of Eden Hazard to Real Madrid last summer.
Lampard and Cech were hugely successful during their 10 years playing together, winning three league titles, the Champions League and the Europa League as team-mates.
Both club legends at Stamford Bridge, the pair began their roles as manager and sporting director last summer.
The club legends returned to the club last summer as manager and sporting director
