Pundit names duo ready to step up after urging Chelsea to drop Werner

Joe Cole has suggested that Chelsea should drop Timo Werner because he needs to improve his finishing, but has backed the striker to be a big success.

Werner was one of multiple high-profile additions at Stamford Bridge over the summer, joining after a prolific stint with RB Leipzig.

The German has scored eight goals from his first 20 games for Chelsea, but is currently without a goal in over a month. The last time he scored was against Sheffield United in early November.

With his form dropping in recent weeks, former Chelsea star Cole thinks it could benefit the team to give him a break.

Cole claims Werner remains a “very dangerous” player, but thinks his old teammate Frank Lampard will have to rotate his lineup to ensure success this season.

“I think Werner, when he comes in off that left, he’s very, very dangerous,” Cole told Amazon Prime.

“I just think he just needs to brush up on his finishing, but he’s a young striker and he will do that.

“So I’ve got no doubts he’ll be a top player for Chelsea but there’s options now and he [Lampard] needs to move it around.

 

“[Hakim] Ziyech and [Callum] Hudson-Odoi to come back in, freshen it up at some point. Take Werner out, bring him back in.

“It’s a marathon to win a title usually, and certainly this year. You’ve got to use your whole squad. So Werner maybe come out, bring the other lads back in.”

‘No doubt’ Werner will be ‘massive’

However, Cole clarified that he still believes Werner will be a pivotal player for Chelsea going forwards – as well as his German compatriot Kai Havertz, who has taken a little longer to settle in since his summer move.

“I think he’s had a good start to his Chelsea career,” Cole said of Werner.

“You can compare him with other big foreign imports, sometimes they come to this league – certainly in these situations you have to understand it might take time for them to settle.

“I think for him and Havertz it has as well. Werner has probably settled in a little bit quicker. They are two top players, I know because you see the glimpses.

“But I have no doubt Werner and Havertz will be massive players for Chelsea.”

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