Werner interest could prompt Klopp to do something he's never done before

Speculation linking Timo Werner with a move to Liverpool this summer is showing no sign of slowing down despite football's current enforced suspension.

The RB Leipzig striker had looked set to move on at the end of last season only to sign a new contract, with reports suggesting it contains a clause that leaves him leave for £52m this year.

With Jurgen Klopp's admiration of the forward well-documented, the Reds had been expected to move for the 24-year-old before the end of the season only for the Coronavirus pandemic to place Werner's future in limbo.

Indeed, Leipzig chief executive Oliver Mintzlaff has insisted to General-Anzeiger Bonn that despite the transfer rumours and Werner's own past comments, he has not held talks with the Reds.

“Neither Jurgen Klopp nor Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has contacted me,” he said in a recent interview.

"First and foremost, we are happy that we managed to extend his contract until 2023.

"We continue to believe that we remain a very good place for Timo Werner to develop as a German international."

With it still unclear if and when the 2019/20 Premier League campaign could be concluded, when 2020/21 could get underway and when the summer transfer window will now open, it remains to be seen if Liverpool act on rumoured interest and try and bring the forward to Anfield ahead of next season.

However, if the Reds did indeed make a move and sign Werner, it would see Klopp entered uncharted territory and do something he's never done before since joining Liverpool in October 2015.

Sign a marquee striker.

Liverpool have a proud record of proven finishers leading the line throughout their history with countless legendary names rolling off the lips from Roger Hunt to Ian Rush, Robbie Fowler to Michael Owen and Fernando Torres to Luis Suarez.

But since re-inventing Roberto Firmino as his side's leading frontman, Klopp has not looked back with Dominic Solanke the only one of his 22 signings who can be described as an out-and-out striker.

Even then, the England international was signed at the end of his Chelsea contract with one eye on the future before being sold for a big profit to Bournemouth after just 18 months.

Meanwhile, the likes of Christian Benteke, Daniel Sturridge and Danny Ings have all been moved on without recognised replacements during Klopp's tenure, while Divock Origi also spent a season on loan at VfL Wolfsburg.

Of course Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah both joined in big-money deals in the summer of 2016 and 2017, but both were recognised wingers who have evolved into versatile, inverted forwards under their German manager and have both filled in centrally on occasions.

Elsewhere, Takumi Minamino has also been fielded as a striker since joining from Red Bull Salzburg in January but the Japan international, like both Mane and Salah, is not predominantly a centre-forward.

But should Werner indeed be signed, Klopp will have broken his own trend in a throwback to the Liverpool sides of yesteryear.