In the midst of football superagents like Jorge Mendes and Mino Raiola, who are notorious for pulling the strings when it comes to high profile deals in the transfer market, Bundesliga expert Jan Aage Fjortoft revealed how instrumental a fellow player could be in the transfer business.
Chelsea used the same strategy to its best effect when they managed to bring in Bundesliga star Timo Werner, despite keen interests from the likes of Liverpool.
Retired footballer and renowned Bundesliga insider Jan Aage Fjortoft explained in the Byline podcast with Alex Goldberg why he firmly believes Antonio Rudiger’s influence to be the primary catalyst in Werner’s transfer to London.
Chelsea’s German centre-back has his roots originated from the Bundesliga and more interestingly, with Stuttgart. Timo Werner also graduated from Die Schwaben’s famous academy system and played alongside Rudiger for a few years before making the switch to RB Leipzig.
This connection, along with the fact that the two were now a regular face within the German national team, paid huge dividends for the Blues. The former Norwegian professional further expanded on the topic during the show, sharing how the same plot is being used as Chelsea push for Kai Havertz’s deal.
This time around, it’s both Werner and Rudiger trying to put their influence on Havertz to good use for Frank Lampard’s men. The Blues have been heavily active already in the transfer market and still have some unfinished business to go through.
In the following clip, Jan Aage Fjortoft ends by asserting how big yet underestimated the influence of the players acting as agents are, the Chelsea faithful-for one, couldn’t possibly agree more.