Ian Wright believed Timo Werner could provide a similar service to Romelu Lukaku at Chelsea to the one Eden Hazard offers him for Belgium.
Speaking on Premier League Productions, Wright wanted to address whether Werner and Lukaku would be able to link up together this season.
The Belgian was brought back to Stamford Bridge in order to sort out the club’s goalscoring issues from last year.
No Chelsea player managed to hit over seven in the league.
Meanwhile, Lukaku notched up 24 in Serie A across the same period.
One of the guilty culprits for the Blues was Werner, who hit just half a dozen top flight goals in his maiden campaign.
It can’t be a great sensation to realise that a new recruit has been signed to literally demonstrate how to do your job.
When Wern becomes two
Some feared the German international might have to make way for the former Inter Milan striker completely.
However, Wright had faith that the two forwards could emulate the relationships that Lukaku has strung up over the years.
Like his partnership with Hazard whilst away on Belgium international duty.
“I think they are two different kinds of strikers,” said the Arsenal icon.
“I think Werner had a brilliant season for coming in during a pandemic, new club, pressure at Chelsea.
“Yes, he missed chances, but he’s not that prolific in the way they want Lukaku to be.
“He scored a lot of goals at Leipzig, but they were very up and down.
“Lukaku is an out-and-out goalscorer. He (Werner) is somebody who will chip in with the goals.
“I think he plays with Lukaku, simply because, Lukaku when he’s doing his best stuff- at Belgium he’s with Dries Mertens or Eden Hazard, or when he was at Inter Milan with Lautaro Martinez- he has that player up there with him.
“Those as a pair, with (Kai) Havertz and (Hakim) Ziyech, is really quite frightening.”
Not quite Eden
Of course, to directly compare Hazard and Werner would be unfair on the latter’s behalf.
But to suggest he could play a similar, feeder role should not be sneered at.
The 25-year-old proved he is more than capable of assisting his teammates- 16 for Chelsea in 2020/21.
What Werner has been without is that magic touch in front of goal.
Thankfully, Lukaku can take most of that burden, as long as the service is provided to him on a silver platter.
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