Messi asks Inter Miami to sign ex-Chelsea star as next blockbuster transfer

Lionel Messi has reportedly asked Inter Miami to sign a former Premier League star and Champions League winner who is ready to make the move to the MLS.

Messi is looking to bring more pedigree to Inter Miami as they look to secure a first ever MLS Cup next month if they win their Eastern Conference Finals tie against New York City FC on Saturday and qualify.

Inter Miami are set to lose two of their designated players at the end of the campaign in Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, who have announced their retirement, leaving spots open for a new star to link up with Messi.

And, according to Fichajes, Timo Werner is the player Messi has identified to be his new teammate after the RB Leipzig forward opened the door to a deal.

Werner reportedly rejected a move to the MLS during the summer but he has played just one minute of football this season and is out of contract at the end of the campaign, leading to his interest in the switch.

It is believed that Werner would welcome the change in environment to reignite his career after a disappointing few years, particularly ahead of the new MLS campaign which begins in February.

Werner looking to find new home after career stagnation

Werner was once touted as one of the best strikers in Europe during his first stint at Leipzig where he scored 78 times in 127 games before a €53 million move to Chelsea in 2020.

However, despite winning the Champions League in 2021, Werner struggled in the Premier League and moved back to Leipzig for €20m in 2022.

Werner’s second spell with the club was not as fruitful and he spent 18 months on loan at Tottenham but scored just twice in 31 Premier League matches before returning to Leipzig in the summer.

Leipzig have since said that Werner is unlikely to ever play for the club again before his contract expires next summer and a move to the MLS is considered ideal for all parties, making a deal a realistic prospect in January.

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