It’s official!

Chelsea have completed the signing of RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner, subject to completing a medical. The German international has agreed a five-year-deal at Stamford Bridge, becoming Chelsea’s second signing of the summer after swiftly moving for Hakim Ziyech from Ajax back in January.

Chelsea have agreed to part with €50m (£45m) triggering the release clause of Werner, who is set to earn more than €10m (£9m) per season in England.

Timo Werner has enjoyed a truly scintilating season in front of goal in the German Bundesliga with 26 goals and eight assists, quickly becoming one of Europe’s most feared forwards.

The signing of Werner will certainly provide Frank Lampard with a ruthless edge in attack something they’ve desperately needed throughout the season, and a flexibility that so few teams can match. With the German capable of playing anywhere across the front four, Lampard now – along with the added creative impetus of Hakim Ziyech, and a few more additions – possesses an attack truly capable of mounting a serious challenge for the Premier League title next season.

Much of Chelsea’s issues this season, and the reason for their shortcomings in matching the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool is their lack of potency up-front. Despite this campaign being an impressive one for Tammy Abraham scoring 13 goals in the Premier League, the same cannot be said for the rest, with their next best scorer coming from midfield in Mason Mount who’s notched six Premier League goals.

It is a problem that will have lingered in Lampard’s thinking, with only Tammy Abraham reaching double figures for goals so far this campaign. The England international has also suffered a number of minor injuries, meaning Chelsea have lacked the necessary firepower to become a clinical force in front of goal. Michy Batshuyai and Giroud have provided cover but not bearing any fruit with only eight goals between them throughout the whole campaign.

How Timo Werner compares to Chelsea’s strikers

Timo Werner is a stark upgrade on Chelsea’s current options. One key aspect is that Werner rarely suffers injuries so he can offer Lampard a peace of mind on the injury front and a commitment and fitness required to play throughout the campaign, with a few rests here and there.

Werner has accumulated much more minutes than Abraham, Giroud and Batshuyai and more importantly offers so much more in the attacking and defensive sense. Within Lampard’s system, he requires his frontman to press from the front, play with energy and form a fluid understanding with fellow teammates.

While Abraham (5.62) and Batshuyai (4.11) have completed more successful pressures per 90 than Werner (3.76) as required, the German completes more dribbles, more passes into the box (1.42), more key passes (1.6), more touches in the opposition box (8.05) per 90 than his counterparts meaning he’ll offer Lampard so much more potency, threat and ruthlessness in the final third.

The German is a workhorse, defenders do not know how to stop him because the striker is constantly on the move, dropping deep in between the lines as well as running beyond the last defender. His pace and movement is the hallmark of his game, unsettling even the most tightest defences. A characteristic that Lampard will hold dear. Chelsea have been found wanting trying to break down deep defensive lines, its why they struggle to comfortably beat the teams in the bottom half.

The 24-year-old has outperformed his XG (Expected goals) of 21.4 in the German Bundesliga along with Tammy Abraham (12.2) who’s notched 13 goals. So Lampard now boasts a potential pairing that will of course score the goals needed to fire Chelsea to the next level. Blended with the imagination, creativity and inventiveness of Hakim Ziyech, Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic behind them, there’s no reason why Chelsea can’t challenge the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City next season.

So how could Chelsea line-up with Timo Werner next season?

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Timo Werner has indeed lined-up on the left for Julian Nagelsmann on a few occasions this season, and could offer Lampard that flexibility if needed. The German’s frightening pace, coupled with his positional understanding and willingness to cover defensively will certainly aid Chelsea’s fluid movement and pace in the wide areas.

What Werner also adds, is the ability to perform in the half-spaces, allowing space for the full-backs to push on – potentially Ben Chilwell if Chelsea manage to recruit him this summer – and create opportunities which could see Abraham improve on his goal return next season.

Chelsea have regularly struggled on the left-wing, Marcos Alonso and Emerson Palmieri, when called upon, have failed to provide the spark needed to give Lampard’s side the perfect balance. The reported interest in Ben Chilwell makes a lot of sense, coupled with the rapidly emerging talent in Reece James on the right could give Frank Lampard a much more free-flowing, expansive and exciting outlook in their attacking play.

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Throughout the season, Timo Werner has lined up next to a fellow target man in Patrik Schick and Youssef Poulsen who are both hard-working forwards, but can also hold up play allowing Werner to pick up loose balls around them and finish off attacks. The German works unbelievably well in a front-two and could just be the tonic for Lampard if he deploys a system which involves a front two. Providing Olivier Giroud stays at the Bridge next season, it could another quality option within the system.

The Chelsea legend has favoured a back-three system a few times this season and it won’t be a surprise to see him utilise the same approach in the coming future. It’s a formation that gives much fluidity and control in possession and organisation without the ball.

The addition of Werner and Ziyech allows Chelsea the flexibility to favour a counter-attacking approach or one that sees them take a more patient one when breaking down tight defences, especially those at the bottom.

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Wherever Werner lines up for Lampard next season, there’s a confidence now and an added incisiveness in Chelsea’s attack with the addition of the German. Lampard will surely be licking his lips at the prospect of possessing one of Europe’s most highly coveted and deadliest forwards.

Werner’s remarkable return of 33 goals in all competitions this seasons tells its own story. Chelsea have now potentially solved their potency issue. Timo Werner is just the tonic Lampard needs to lead his beloved club to the next level.

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