'We need a breath of fresh air' - RB Leipzig sporting director admits Timo Werner faces summer axe after failing to impress during Tottenham loan spell

Werner rejoined Spurs on loan in the summer, after initially arriving in January of last season. The forward has struggled throughout his time in north London, however, and has scored just once in 27 appearances, with that strike coming in a Carabao Cup win over Manchester City. He has registered three assists, but his inability to score consistently almost guarantees that he will be heading back to the Bundesliga this summer.

Spurs do reportedly have a purchase option of around €12 million (£10m/$13m) but Schafer has now hinted that the ex-Chelsea flop will be returning to Germany, and may then need to find himself a new club during the summer window.

Schafer said, per RB Live: “Timo Werner is currently at Tottenham. We spoke with his agent two or three weeks ago. I think the loan isn’t going quite as well as we might hope.

“[Leipzig will] think about Timo Werner and all the players who are returning in the summer in due course.”

He added: “We want to have a team on the pitch starting this summer that corresponds to what I’ve already answered several times.

“We need a breath of fresh air, a new spirit, to recapture that attitude, that life, brutal energy that has distinguished this club.”

Spurs face one of Werner's former clubs on Thursday, when they take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. They currently languish in 14th in the Premier League table.