Timo Werner blown away by Chelsea target Josko Gvardiol and reveals how Premier League spell changed him

Timo Werner has heaped praise on Chelsea transfer target Josko Gvardiol and revealed how his own spell in the Premier League changed him.

The Blues have been heavily linked with a move for RB Leipzig and Croatia defender Gvardiol over the past 12 months.

Gvardiol, 20, has established himself as one of Leipzig’s most important players since his move from Dinamo Zagreb in 2020.

The centre-back has also become a regular for Croatia and impressed at the Qatar World Cup before the team’s semi-final exit.

Former Chelsea forward Werner admits he is sometimes blown away by Gvardiol in training and says it comes as no surprise that elite European clubs have expressed interest in signing him.

Asked what it’s like facing his RB Leipzig team-mate Gvardiol in training, Werner told Bild: ‘So it’s not fun!

‘He can shoot left and right, pass, cross and hit diagonal balls. I don’t know what he can’t do. He’s very fast and at only 20 years old has a body like I’ve never seen before.

‘What I find most important about him: he is incredibly friendly, polite, down-to-earth and therefore completely clear-headed.

‘I can understand why everyone wants him.’

Werner spent two years at Chelsea, scoring 23 goals in 89 matches and helping the Blues win the Champions League.

But he drew criticism for his wayward finishing and often frustrating performances, with Chelsea opting to sell him back to RB Leipzig last summer.

Asked how his spell in west London changed him, Werner added: ‘It made me more mature, more reflective. And made me want to go abroad again at the end of my career.

‘I still get a lot of letters from Chelsea fans or am addressed on vacation – almost always positively. I think they liked that I was authentic. I think it’s important that you can be who you are in football too. And you don’t always have to pretend.’

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