Sports Werner 'is willing to join Chelsea or Man Utd if Liverpool refuse to pay £49m'

Timo Werner is reportedly open to joining Chelsea or Manchester United this summer, but only if Liverpool give up in their attempts to sign the striker.

Liverpool are at the front of the queue to sign the Germany international but they now face competition from their Premier League rivals.

All three English clubs are reluctant to pay the 24-year-old's £49million release clause, currently valuing the player at £30m.

However, RB Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff has warned any future move to sign the forward 'won't get any cheaper'.

Werner has scored 30 goals in all competitions this season and remains under contract at Leipzig until June 2023.

Despite differing valuations, Jurgen Klopp has held personal discussions with Werner in which he has reiterated Liverpool's desire to complete a deal.

According to Sky Sport Italia journalist Fabrizio Romano, Werner remains hopeful of moving to Anfield and will only consider other offers if the Reds end negotiations.

Werner had previously suggested he would prefer to join Manchester United instead of Liverpool.

Speaking in 2018, he said: 'Yes, playing in the Premier League is a dream for me.

'I would like to play for two or three clubs, and Manchester United are one of those clubs.

'But probably not in the next few years – later, when my English is a little bit better! I'm very comfortable at RB Leipzig, though.

'Manchester United and Liverpool were the teams I watched quite a lot in England.

'They were the two that I'm a little bit a fan of, because they have so much history. When Alex Ferguson was the coach, United won everything and were outstanding.

'In Liverpool it's also their stadium and the atmosphere. But when I have to decide, I'm more Manchester United than Liverpool.'