Spurs agreed purchase option worth almost £10million in Timo Werner's loan
But RB Leipzig fear Tottenham will send Werner back at the end of the season
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RB Leipzig fear Tottenham will send Timo Werner back to the Bundesliga after his dismal loan spell in north London is complete, according to reports in Germany.
Spurs signed the German forward on loan in January before deciding to extend his stay until the end of the 2024-25 season, agreeing a purchase option worth almost £10million in his deal.
Werner was once viewed as one of the hottest strikers in European football during his first spell with RB Leipzig, but his form has knack for scoring goals has fallen off a cliff in recent seasons — beginning with his ill-fated £47.5m move to Chelsea in 2020.
The 28-year-old star has yet to score a single goal in the Premier League so far this campaign, despite playing 19 matches in the competition.
Of those appearances, only three have been starts — with Ange Postecoglou not naming him in a Premier League starting lineup since March, despite Spurs' ongoing injury problems.
Now, according to German outlet Bild, RB Leipzig are concerned that Tottenham will reject the £10m buy option at the end of June and place him on the first plane back to Saxony.
Werner has fallen further down Postecoglou's pecking order this season with Dominic Solanke, Son Heung-min, Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison and Brennan Johnson all clearly favoured in attacking areas.
Meanwhile, Brazil international Richarlison and exciting 20-year-old prospect Wilson Odobert, who are both currently injured, will also be options in attack when available.
The German newspaper claims, however, that Tottenham will not send Werner back to Leipzig before the end of his loan spell in June, describing that eventuality as 'out of the question'.
It is understood Leipzig do not want to pay Werner's annual salary of almost £10m anymore and would consider his return a 'painful' reunion.
Postecoglou savaged Werner after hauling the Germany international off at half-time against Rangers earlier this month.
'He wasn't playing anywhere near the level he should,' said Postecoglou when asked if the substitution, which saw Werner come off for Kulusevski, was tactical.
'When you've got 18-year-olds out there, it's not acceptable to me. I said that to Timo.
'He's a senior international, he's a German international. In the moment we're in right now, it's not like we've got many options.
'I need everyone to at least be going out there trying to give the best of themselves. His performance in the first half wasn't acceptable.'
When asked how Werner had taken the criticism, the manager said: 'It's not really of great concern. We need everybody including him to be contributing. Because we don't have the depth to leave people out if they're performing poorly.'
Tottenham's poor December continued on Sunday with a disappointing 2-2 draw against Wolves in north London.
Spurs slipped to 11th in the Premier League and will finish 2024 in the bottom half if Brentford win or draw against Arsenal on Monday.