Timo Werner has acknowledged he will likely need to leave RB Leipzig if he wants to establish himself as a world-class forward.
The Germany international has developed into one of the Bundesliga s most highly rated young players, particularly since joining Leipzig from Stuttgart in 2016.
Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool and AC Milan have all been linked with the 22-year-old, while Bayern Munich have reportedly identified the striker as the ideal potential replacement for Robert Lewandowski.
And Werner thinks he will only become one of the world s best players if he follows the example of team-mate Naby Keita, who is to join Liverpool on July 1.
To become a world-class player, I ll probably have to play in an even better team at club level, Werner told Welt. I still have four or five years in which to learn.
I want to be really honest. Naby Keita hasn t become world class with us, either, but he might now with Liverpool.
To become world class, you have to play in big games, like the final or semi-final of the Champions League.
Werner scored 13 goals in 28 starts for Leipzig in the Bundesliga and four in five in the Europa League in 2017-18.
He is expected to be named in Joachim Low s final 23-man squad for the World Cup, having been called up to the provisional group last month.
