Bundesliga Return: Timo Werner's Astonishing Season so Far

Since joining RB Leipzig from Stuttgart in 2016, Timo Werner has been one of the most exciting prospects in the Bundesliga with the potential to become one of Europe's very best.

The German forward has had a sensational season with Leipzig, scoring 21 goals in 25 games in the top-flight, thus equalling his highest goal scoring tally, with nine games remaining to play. The former Stuttgart striker has been Die Rotten Bullen's top scorer for the past three Bundesliga campaigns and this season he is challenging the Golden Boot phenom, Robert Lewandowski.

Werner’s performances so far have contributed to his side’s impressive season, where a title charge is happening once more, as Leipzig establish themselves in the Champions League as well. The club are currently third in the league and are just four points off first-place Bayern Munich and one point off second-place Borussia Dortmund.

The 24-year-old began the season in sensational form, scoring five goals in his first three games including a hat-trick against Borussia Monchengladbach, as Leipzig won their opening three games.

Here, we take a look back on Werner's magnificent season so far and whether or not he can surpass the great Lewandowski.

After such a great start, adifficult run of games including a draw to Munich and a 3-1 loss away to Schalke would follow for Leipzig. Thus came a small goal drought for Werner, as he failed to get on the score sheet in the league until October, where he bagged against Wolfsburg.

Shortly after the German’s lack of goals, however, Werner went onto score in seven consecutive games over the winter period, breaking his personal record for consecutive games scored in. The Leipzig number 11 hit the back of the net a staggering 12 times in seven games, helping his team reach the top spot in the Bundesliga and bringing his total up to 18 goals for the season.

The German’s form was largely attributed to his player management by Leipzig manager, Julien Nagelsmann, as Werner went on his impressive goalscoring streak, including his second hat-trick of the season against FSV Mainz 05.

Two crucial goals against Dortmund to bring them back from two goals down followed back in December, and capped off a sensational winter season for Werner, just before the annual break.

Werner told Bundesliga.com about Nagelsmann’s tactical tweak, "I'm playing almost as an attacking midfielder, which means I've got to play like the others do, like [Emil] Forsberg, [Marcel] Sabitzer, [Christopher] Nkunku, and get assists."

The impressive attacker has found himself in a variety of positions this campaign, although most of his goals have come when playing down the middle. In total 23 of Werner's goals so far have been when deployed as the main man down the centre, however, three have been slotted home from left wing

Throughout the German international’s impressive goal streak, Leipzig also went on a game-winning run of nine, remaining unbeaten from early November all the way through until late January, when they were beaten 2-0 by Eintracht Frankfurt, a week after the striker added two more to his tally against Union Berlin.

Despite their lack of results, Leipzig currently sit at third in the table just four points behind leaders, Munich. The Bavarian’s top goalscorer, Lewandowski, is also four goals ahead of Werner so far this season, and with nine games left in the campaign, the German centre forward will be keen to score more goals and keep the pressure on Munich and Lewandowski for those top spots.

Ahead of the return, Werner needs just one more goal to make this season the best scoring season of his professional season far, and with Leipzig with an outside chance in the race for the Bundesliga title, Nagelsmann will be confident his striker can continue his impressive goalscoring form to maintain the pressure on Bayern.

Given the impressive campaign the German has had so far this season, a host of Europe’s most elite clubs from around Europe have become interested in signing the 24-year-old this summer. Premier League outfits have been heavily linked with the forward, including Chelsea, Manchester United and most notably, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.

Merseyside seems the most likely destination for Werner after this season, with Paddy Power giving the odds of 4/9 for the move to happen, with Sky Sports reporting that the German forward is ready to sign for the Reds if they are willing to pay his £52m release clause.

Whether he moves away from Leipzig in the summer, or decides to stay, Werner has had his best season in a Leipzig shirt so far, making him one of Europe’s most prolific strikers of the 2019/20 season. His goal scoring efforts and his creative play at the head of Naglesmann’s side has brought Leipzig into third so far, and a chance at the Golden Boot should his form continue.

By Bradley Beecham