DONE DEAL: Tottenham complete Timo Werner transfer as Premier League tussle with Aston Villa intensifies

The most recent Premier League transfer rumors as the league’s top teams ramp up their January window and Champions League qualification is up for grabs

Tottenham have signed forward Timo Werner from RB Leipzig on loan until the end of the season (Image: PA)

Tottenham completed a loan deal for RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner, making them the first Champions League contenders to make a big move during the January transfer window.

Spurs have secured a six-month deal for the former Chelsea attacker, while Liverpool, Aston Villa, Man City, and Arsenal all contemplate how they will strengthen ahead of what is turning into not only a scramble for the top four or five positions but is also evolving into an exciting title race.

Werner joins on a six-month contract with the option to extend it permanently in the summer. Manager Ange Postecoglou gave the go-ahead to sign the 27-year-old because captain Son Heung-min will be absent the following month due to South Korea’s Asian Cup play.

Following a £54 million transfer, Werner had a mixed tenure at Chelsea, scoring 23 goals in 89 appearances. Nevertheless, he returns to the Premier League with unfinished business. The German international did contribute to the Blues’ 2021 Champions League victory, and he will look to return to peak form in London.

After spending £25 million to rejoin his old team Leipzig, Werner left Chelsea two years ago. Although he scored 16 goals the previous season, he has had few opportunities under manager Marco Rose this season, making just four starts across all competitions.

He is expected to make his Tottenham debut this coming weekend when the team travels to Manchester United. Should the temporary move work out, he may decide to stay longer in N17. The agreement includes a fee of between 15 million and 20 million euros to make the transfer permanent. Villa, who are currently three points ahead of the North London outfit in second place, will play Tottenham at the start of March.

Unai Emery has already talked about how difficult it will be for Villa to find a player of the proper caliber to join and elevate an already excellent squad.

Despite his patchy record over the last few seasons, Werner’s versatility will give Postecoglou more attacking options because the former Stuttgart forward can play either wing or in a central role.

Radu Dragusin of Genoa is another player that Tottenham is trying to sign. Spurs intensified their negotiations with the Serie A team last week, but Bayern Munich will not be left out in the hunt for the Romanian center back before Sunday’s visit to Old Trafford. PA is aware that Djed Spence was offered a six-month loan by Genoa, but he may decide to go in a different direction.