Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler has said that he is "not a big fan" of Timo Werner and would not be disappointed to see the Reds miss out on a summer deal for the RB Leipzig attacker.

Jurgen Klopp's side have long been linked with the 24-year-old, who has scored 31 times and registered 13 assists in 41 appearances for his Bundesliga club during the 2019-20 campaign.

Chelsea appear to have moved to the head of the queue for the Germany international, though, with the Blues thought to be closing in on a £54m deal.

Fowler has acknowledged that Werner is "a talented player", but the 45-year-old does not believe that the striker is good enough to earn a spot in Liverpool's front three.

"I've heard the noise ­surrounding Timo Werner in recent weeks – but I'm not a big fan," Fowler wrote in his column for The Mirror. "I realise he's a talented player, he has moments of real brilliance in matches that underline his quality. But I stand by this: is Werner up to the standard of Liverpool's current front three? Not for me.

"I've also seen the meltdown from some Liverpool fans when they ­realised he's probably not leaving RB Leipzig for Anfield after all. It makes it seem as though he's a Marco van Basten, a world-class player who would walk into any side.

"For the life of me, I don't know why... does he influence games consistently enough? Not for me. Does he match up to the players you are signing him to challenge and replace? Not at Liverpool. Maybe at Chelsea."

Werner has also scored 11 times in 29 appearances at international level.