Chelsea striker Timo Werner needs ‘a lot of work’ and ‘doesn’t look like a goalscorer’, says Paul Merson

Chelsea summer signing Timo Werner requires ‘a lot work’ and ‘doesn’t look like a goalscorer’, according to Arsenal hero Paul Merson.

Werner, 24, was brought in from RB Leipzig last summer for £47.5million after netting 28 goals in 34 Bundesliga games last season.

But since his arrival at Stamford Bridge, the striker has struggled to adapt to the Premier League and recently went on a run of 14 top-flight games without finding the back of the net.

That barren spell was finally brought to an end when the Germany international tapped in at the back post in his side’s 2-0 win over Newcastle earlier this month.

But Werner remains on five Premier League goals for the campaign, and Merson feels Thomas Tuchel has ‘a lot of work’ to do to get him firing.

When asked on Sky Sports whether Werner is a better player than fellow Blues striker Tammy Abraham, who is ahead on six league goals for the season, Merson said: ‘I would have Tammy Abraham to score more goals than Timo Werner.

‘I think there’s a lot of work to be done with this lad. I know he’s been brought in for all that money.

‘I watched loads of stuff with him where he’s not even near to the finished article, not even close, times when he’ll go down the wing, he’ll literally just cross a ball and there’s no nobody in there, instead of just getting it and coming back.

‘It seems like he’s just getting rid of the ball.

‘There’s a lot of work to be done with him at the moment.

‘If you said to me, “Who’s going to score the most goals?”, I would say Tammy Abraham. Tammy Abraham is a goalscorer, I don’t think this lad looks like a goalscorer.’

MORE: Harry Maguire rates Thomas Tuchel’s start as Chelsea manager

MORE: Thomas Tuchel reveals the position Kai Havertz will play in his Chelsea team

Follow Metro Sport across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

For more stories like this, check our sport page