Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel’s Timo Werner guarantee as German admits ‘Erling Haaland talks’

Chelsea's keepers show impressive footwork in training

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Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel surprised many by admitting in a recent interview that he and his colleagues still speak regularly about Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland. Such talk will do little to assure the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner who both currently lay claim to minutes through the middle at Stamford Bridge, but the Blues boss has been down this road before.

Haaland’s reported £65million release clause is still set to be activated in 2022, with a number of top European clubs sure to throw their hats into the ring.

The rampant Norwegian has started this season as he finished the last, notching nine goals in just six Bundesliga games.

With no sign of the 21-year-old sensation slowing down, Chelsea flirted with the idea of testing Dortmund’s resolve during the summer, although they eventually walked away.

“We have talked about Haaland a couple of times also in the transfer window,” admitted Tuchel to Sport Bild.

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“Of course we talk about regularly about him because he is a fantastic player and a profile at Dortmund, which is a big rival for us in the Champions League.”

When quizzed on whether Lukaku and Haaland could form a partnership, Tuchel grinned: “I have no problem to talk about that.”

While the Belgian may feel slightly threatened at the thought of Haaland walking through the doors at Stamford Bridge, a player who may feel it even more so is Werner.

The German went through similar emotions when Lukaku was essentially signed as his replacement during the summer, but Chelsea’s boss was quick to provide assurance on that occasion.

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“I am sure that we will find games and solutions where we play with both of them (Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku),” he claimed.

“We did already and Timo and Romelu can be a good fit together.

“Timo loves to play around a reference up front and Romelu is clearly our reference up front being a tall and physical player.”

While the boss’ words may have made Werner feel better, he has been used primarily as a wide option or an impact substitution so far this campaign.

The 25-year-old can have few complaints after a poor debut season in front of goal, but the prospect of Haaland switching to west London would make his life even harder.

A Lukaku and Haaland partnership would surely be mouth-watering for Blues fans, and perhaps even palatable for Lukaku himself, but Werner could be left as the awkward third party.

With only one Premier League goal so far this campaign, Tuchel’s Haaland talk piles on added pressure to up the levels, or risk seeing his Chelsea career slip away.

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