Werner already looks a great signing for Chelsea
Timo Werner has already shown he will be a big threat to Premier League defences. His debut was an encouraging one and the German is clearly capable of scoring goals.
So it’s perhaps surprising that the odds on Werner winning the Golden Boot for the top-flight’s leading scorer are as wide as 9/1. Yes, you read that right – Timo Werner has 9/1 Golden Boot odds
That seems more than generous based on his performance against Brighton on Monday, not to mention his form in Germany prior to his move.
Werner didn’t manage to score in Chelsea’s 3-1 win but his performance was full of quality and menace.
He won the penalty which led to Jorginho putting the visitors ahead with a 23rd-minute spot-kick.
The way in which Werner drifted behind the Brighton defence before being taken down by keeper Mat Ryan highlighted how hard he will be to stop this season.
Already, the deal to bring him in from RB Leipzig during the summer looks like money well spent. Very well spent.
Attacking options galore
What will help Werner’s quest for goals is the array of other attacking options available to Frank Lampard this term. There will be no shortage of chances created for the main striker, that’s for sure.
Lampard was keen to strengthen in that area and the Blues boss has certainly done so, adding Kai Havertz and Hakim Ziyech as well as Werner.
Havertz and Ziyech are exciting signings and of course there is Christian Pulisic, who has been hampered by injury problems but was superb at times last season.
Chelsea have lost the experience of Willian and Pedro but their new options make them so strong that it seems like Callum Hudson-Odoi could struggle to get a first-team place this season.
More to come from Havertz
Havertz had a somewhat subdued debut but there is surely more to come from him.
He showed glimpses of his ability at Brighton but there were no standout moments from him before he was replaced by Hudson-Odoi late in the game.
But Lampard is untroubled by that – and remains convinced that Havertz will make a big impact in west London.
Lampard said: “I liked him. It’s not a game that you’d come away and go, “here are 10 vintage moments’ but I thought there were moments of real quality and calmness.
“It’s a big ask. There’s a lot on his shoulders for the signing that he was, the fact that he’s young and coming from a different league.
“He plays the game at such a pace in terms of his quality and how he receives the ball and I thought we saw a few glimpses of that.
“We also saw him sprint back 80 yards to make a defensive interception having given the ball away, so everything I’ve seen about him in terms of his character is spot-on and his quality is going to come through.
“I saw glimpses and we’re going to see a lot more. He’s a hugely talented young player.”
