Liverpool on alert as Werner's €60m release clause expires in April

Liverpool have until the end of April to sign top transfer target Timo Werner for €60m (£50m), claims German outlet Bild.

Werner has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield in the past and Jurgen Klopp finally looks set to ramp up the club's interest in the striker this summer.

Despite the fact they are on course to end their 30-year wait for a league title, Liverpool are expected to be aggressive in the transfer window this summer.

Liverpool didn't make any first-team signings last summer and want cover in attack with Sadio Mane and Mo Salah due to miss part of next season at the Africa Cup of Nations in January.

Egypt are also hopeful Salah will committ to their squad for the 2020 Olympics in the summer and Werner has been earmarked as a top transfer target by the Reds.

With Bayern Munich no longer in the running for the 23-year-old, Liverpool are considered the frontrunners for his signature.

It was thought Bayern would sign Werner on a free transfer this summer but the Germany international signed a new Leipzig deal at the start of the season.

However, Werner's new contract includes a release clause of just €60m but it must be activated before April in order to stand.

It means Liverpool will have to trigger the clause in the next two months or risk paying whatever Leipzig demand for the forward thereafter.

Werner has been in sublime goalscoring form for Leipzig this season, as Julian Nagelsmann's side push Bayern all the way for the Bundesliga title.

This season is Werner's best in front of goal since his first campaign for Leipzig back in 16/17 when he netted 21 league goals in 31 appearances.

Werner has 20 goals in 21 Bundesliga matches so far this season and has 13 games left to surpass his previous best, while he is only two goals behind top scorer Robert Lewandowski in the race to win the Golden Boot in Germany's top flight.