Liverpool made an attempt for Chelsea striker Timo Werner before his departure from RB Leipzig, it has been alleged.

Werner turned down an early move to Liverpool 'to push for a move to Bayern Munich', evidence submitted as part of a lawsuit in Germany alleges.

The German international was heavily linked with the Reds in 2020, although details emerging from a legal case now claim the club first approached him in 2019, according to Der Spiegel.

Various reports last summer indicated that Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp wanted the attacker to operate as an alternative striker option to Roberto Firmino, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Werner had been plying his trade in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig, where he scored 34 goals during the 2019/20 season.

However, in the end the Reds opted not to move for Werner and instead went on to sign Diogo Jota from Wolves on a long-term deal.

That opened the door for Chelsea who paid the £48m release clause in Werner's contract at Leipzig.

Now, a report in Der Spiegel details a lawsuit between Werner's agent Karl-Heinz Forster and his former associate Murat Lokurlu.

Evidence submitted by Lokurlu as part of the financial disagreement includes a number of WhatsApp chats detailing an apparent proposed transfer for Werner in 2019.

According to Lokurlu's lawyer, Werner was in talks with Liverpool and Bayern Munich over a potential move in February 2019.