When it comes to flop signings, chelsea Over the past four or five years, they’ve earned more than their fair share.
The likes of Romelu Lukaku, Kalidou Koulibaly, Raheem Sterling and Mihailo Mudric are just some of the players who paid big money to join but failed to live up to expectations.
Another star who looked destined for great things at Stamford Bridge but ultimately failed was Germany international Timo Werner.
unfortunately Enzo Maresca One player in his current squad looks like he could become Chelsea’s new Werner.
Werner’s failed Chelsea career
When Chelsea agreed to pay RB Leipzig £45m in the summer of 2020 to activate Werner’s release clause, Stamford Bridge fans were understandably excited.
At the time, the 24-year-old striker was one of the most exciting players across Europe and had spent the past two seasons scoring goals just for fun.
For example, in the 18/19 and 19/20 seasons, the Stuttgart-born star played a total of 6,692 minutes in 82 games, scoring 53 goals and providing 23 assists.
In other words, the Germany international averages a goal every 1.07 games, or every 88.05 minutes, which is indeed a world-class rate of return.
Unfortunately, while he may not be as bad as some fans think, the 29-year-old will never recreate that form for the Blues.
|
Werner’s 19/20 vs 20/21 |
||
|---|---|---|
|
season |
19/20 |
20/21 |
|
Number of appearances |
45 |
52 |
|
minute |
3589′ |
3831′ |
|
Target |
34 |
12 |
|
Assist |
13 |
15 |
|
Goals per game |
1.04 |
0.51 |
|
Engagement minutes per goal |
76.36 |
141.88′ |
In fact, he didn’t dare to get close at all.
In two seasons in which he made 89 appearances for the west Londoners, the 57-cap international scored 23 goals and provided 21 assists, averaging a goal every 2.02 games.
Now, it wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t enough to lead the team, and the stats didn’t really show it, and he ended up developing a reputation for missed chances, especially after the Champions League game against Real Madrid.
Chelsea have decided to cut their losses and sell the speedy forward back to Leipzig for just £25 million in the summer of 2022. Fast forward to today and it now looks like Maresca may have his own Werner in the squad.
Chelsea’s new Werner
The unfortunate truth is that you can argue that several of Chelsea’s summer signings have underperformed this season, but the one who feels like he could be the new Werner certainly is Jamie Gittens.
Now, the Englishman is still young so will probably do well in the long term, but as things stand it’s hard not to see the similarities between him and the German’s start to life in west London.
Like the former Leipzig star, for example, the Reading-born gem joined the Pensioners after impressing in the Bundesliga for Borussia Dortmund.
Despite his young age, the 21-year-old has made 49 appearances for the German giants, playing a total of 2,803 minutes, scoring 12 goals and providing 5 assists.
In fact, the winger has been so impressive at some points during the season, such as his performance away at Real Madrid, that Dougie Critchley, Sky Sports He was even called “England’s best left-winger”.
Unfortunately, as is the case with Werner, Chelsea fans have yet to see the dynamic winger at his best this year.
For example, while it’s disappointing enough that he has one goal and five assists in 18 games, it’s even more disappointing when you consider that three of his goals came against Wolves in the Carabao Cup.
|
Gittens’ Chelsea record |
|
|---|---|
|
Number of appearances |
18 |
|
minute |
830′ |
|
Target |
1 |
|
Assist |
5 |
|
Goals per game |
0.33 |
|
Engagement minutes per goal |
138.33′ |
As it stands, the former Borussia Dortmund star is nowhere near good enough to start for Maresca and he doesn’t appear to have much of an impact off the bench, so while it’s brutal, it’s hard to disagree with one analyst who calls him “A meaningless signature.”
Ultimately, there’s still time for Gittens to excel at Chelsea, but for now, it looks like he’s destined to become another Werner.






