Leipzig pour cool water on Werner Chelsea talk
RB Leipzig on Saturday cast doubt on news that Germany striker Timo Werner was closing in on a move to Chelsea, saying that the widely reported transfer was definately not a done deal.
"Timo Werner hasn't triggered the (release) clause (in his contract), and we haven't received a transfer contract from any club," said Leipzig's sporting director Oliver Mintzlaff.
"Timo Werner is in the driver's seat now, not us," Mintzlaff said, adding that Werner "indicated a couple weeks ago that he was looking into a transfer".
According to media reports in Germany and England this week, Werner has decided to move to Chelsea by the end of the growing season, with the Premier League club prepared to pay around 50 million euros (£44.5 million).
On Saturday, Mintzlaff said he was pleased that Werner had renewed his contract last summer in order to avoid Leipzig losing him on a free of charge transfer.
He added that he did not expect any difficulties over Werner's departure as a result of changes in the football calendar as a result of the coronavirus crisis.
"We are sure we will look for a solution along with his new club which allows us to get rid of the Bundesliga season with Timo," he said.
