Timo Werner and Jurgen Klopp have held 'virtual meeting' in recent weeks amid Liverpool transfer talk
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has held a "virtual meeting" with Timo Werner in recent weeks as the RB Leipzig striker continues to be mentioned in connection with a high-profile transfer to Anfield, according to journalist Raphael Honigstein.
One of the most prolific and sought-after strikers in European football, Werner has been heavily linked with multiple different clubs over recent months including Chelsea, Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan.
However, the links to Anfield have been most persistent and Standard Sport understands that the German international is one of Klopp's targets for when the transfer window reopens.
Werner provided another tantalising glimpse of what he could potentially bring to an already potent attack boasted by the Premier League champions-elect on Sunday, notching his third hat-trick of the 2019-20 season as Leipzig thrashed Mainz 5-0 at Opel Arena to jump back into third place in the Bundesliga.
That latest eye-catching treble took the 24-year-old's league tally for the season to 24 (30 across all competitions) and he also now reigns as Leipzig's all-time top scorer.
Such a performance has inevitably led to more talk regarding a potential big-money move for Werner, with Honigstein commenting he believes there is a "very strong chance" that the player - who has made no secret of his admiration for Klopp - joins Liverpool, depending on the severity of the impact of the Covid-19 shutdown on club finances.
"I think it depends on what Liverpool want to do, because Werner's been on the record saying he wants to go there and he is available because of a release clause which at the worst would cost about €55m (£49.2m)," he said on BT Sport.
"So far Liverpool have been linked closely and there has been a meeting between him and Jurgen Klopp, at least a virtual one over the last few weeks.
"I think they're a bit hesitant to pull the trigger because they haven't quite figured out how much of a financial problem the coronavirus will present itself to football, coming over the next month in the Premier League.
"I think he's waiting for things to fall into shape and it could be that the transfer window is much later than usual.
"This kind of deal would have been announced in April/May, this time it could be August or September, but I still think there's a very strong chance he'll end up at Liverpool."
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