Tottenham Hotspur reportedly have no choice but to keep struggling attacker Timo Werner on loan for the rest of the season, as RB Leipzig will not have him back.
After winning over Ange Postecoglou in the second half of the 2023-24 campaign, the former Chelsea attacker returned to North London on another temporary deal during the summer transfer window.
However, Werner's second spell in North London has been nothing short of abysmal, as he has scored just one goal and provided three assists in 23 matches for the Lilywhites in all competitions.
Werner has made the starting lineup on just three occasions in the Premier League - his path to the first XI is blocked by Son Heung-min - and he has also failed to make the most of his opportunities in Europe.
Postecoglou memorably gave a scathing review of the German's performance against Rangers in the Europa League on December 12, where he was taken off at half time due to his "unacceptable" display.
Werner Leipzig return "out of the question" in January
© Imago
Tottenham have reportedly already decided that they will not be exercising their £10m option to sign Werner permanently this summer, and his dismal form has led to the suggestion that he could head back to Germany this month.
However, Bild claims that cutting the 28-year-old's loan short is "out of the question", and Werner will continue to represent Tottenham until the end of the current campaign.
The German outlet claims that Werner's parent club are 'fearing' the attacker's return in the summer, and they have refused to welcome him back in January due to his annual €10m (£8.3m) wages.
The attacker is also in the final 18 months of his contract with Leipzig, who will likely try to find a buyer for Werner in the summer rather than risk losing him for nothing in the summer of 2026.
Werner rejoined Die Roten Bullen on a permanent deal from Chelsea for £16.6m in the summer of 2022, but he has failed to hit the same heights he did before his initial Premier League arrival and has also not been called up to the German national team since June 2023.
Will any Tottenham players leave in January?
© Imago
To Spurs fans' dismay, Werner will be donning the Lilywhites kit for another few months, but there could still be scope for an exit or two before the January window closes for business.
Five players are now in the last six months of their deals - Son, Fraser Forster, Ben Davies, Alfie Whiteman and Sergio Reguilon - and the latter is considered the most likely to move on over the winter.
Reguilon has only made two appearances for Spurs in the 2024-25 campaign, although Postecoglou might not be able to fathom losing another defender amid his side's rearguard injury crisis.
The future also looks bleak for Richarlison at Tottenham, but he has apparently decided to stay and fight for his place in the second half of the season, while Radu Dragusin will not be allowed to depart this month due to Spurs' injury situation.
Ben Knapton
