What Tottenham's players and staff were thinking when Timo Werner came back again on loan this summer

Tottenham Hotspur aren’t in a particularly good place at present, having failed to win any of their last five games.

Spurs’ last game was a 1-1 draw against Rangers in the Europa League, in which Ange Postecoglou’s side had to come from behind.

After the game, the Tottenham manager publicly criticised Timo Werner for being nowhere near the level expected of him.

“He wasn’t playing anywhere near the level he should,” Postecoglou said in his post-match press conference.

“When you’ve got 18-year-olds it’s not acceptable to me. I said that to Timo. He’s a senior international, he’s a German international.”

Werner only has one goal and three assists from 19 Tottenham outings this season, and hasn’t completed a full 90 minutes since returning to Spurs.

This is the RB Leipzig forward’s second loan stint with Tottenham, having linked up with the Lilywhites in the second half of last season.

When Werner re-joined Tottenham, Alasdair Gold shared how Spurs’ players and staff made of his return, which makes for interesting hearing now.

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Tottenham were hoping for Timo Werner stay last summer

Back in May, after Tottenham confirmed Werner’s return to N17 on loan with the option to buy, Gold said the Spurs players and staff were happy to have him back.

“I think it’s also key that Postecoglou wanted him,” he said. “I have spoken to a few people around the club and around the squad as well and quite a few people were hoping that he would stay.

“He has just been quite effective within the Postecoglou way. He does exactly what he wants. He has fitted into the squad dynamic very well. He is popular within the squad.

“Werner wanted to stay himself as well.”

Postecoglou previously said he would never publicly criticise his players, something which he has now done.

Could Werner leave Tottenham in January transfer window?

Werner’s disappointing season so far, culminating in his poor performance against Rangers, had led to speculation regarding his future at N17 ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

Tottenham have the option to end his loan stint early, but according to Bild, this is not something they plan to do.

However, the outlet says Spurs are unlikely to take up the option to sign Werner at the end of the season as things stand.

It looks as though Tottenham could be keeping him around as a squad option – and maybe Postecoglou’s public criticism may spur him on – while they’ve got him.