• Premier League

Chelsea expected to sign Schurrle

Chelsea are set to sign Germany international Andre Schurrle from Bayer Leverkusen, according to reports in the German media. Kevin de Bruyne is to be part of the deal and sign for Leverkusen from Chelsea.

Schurrle had been targeted by the Blues ahead of the 2012-13 season but was told to stay at the club. On Friday, corresponding media reports in Bild and Express claimed the 22-year-old, 7 goals in 22 games, is set to leave Leverkusen at the end of the season and join the Blues.

The left-sided midfielder could be part of an exchange deal with Belgium international De Bruyne. De Bruyne is currently on loan at Werder Bremen but revealed he was told to move clubs after the current season.

According to Express, the Blues are ready to splash out €26 million to sign Schurrle and also will send De Bruyne on a loan to Leverkusen. Bild, however, claim De Bruyne will be part of a €12 to €15 million deal and sign a contract at Leverkusen.

"Every coach wants to keep the best players of his team," Leverkusen boss Sami Hyypia told the press. "We will certainly try and keep him. Andr has shown how important he is for us. If he performs like against Dusseldorf [where he scored a brace in Leverkusen's 4-1 last weekend], this would be very good."

Hyypia also said he closely monitored De Bruyne: "He is a good player. And good players are always interesting players." Leverkusen chief Wolfgang Holzhauser told Express: "It stays that way: Kevin de Bruyne is an interesting player."

When questioned by Bild, Schurrle refused to comment on his possible transfer to the Premier League.

Leverkusen sit third in the Bundesliga and hold a six-point lead over Eintracht Frankfurt, the first team outside the Champions League spots.

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