• Premier League

Leverkusen out of running for De Bruyne

ESPN staff
June 10, 2013

Bayer Leverkusen squad manager Michael Reschke has said Belgium international Kevin de Bruyne will not be joining the club on loan from Chelsea.

Borussia Dortmund, however, believe they remain in the race to sign the 21-year-old, and general manager Michael Zorc has said the club will be talking to the Londoners again.

Last week, Zorc had said De Bruyne was only interested in a move to Dortmund.

Leverkusen had wanted to include a move for the Belgium international in any transfer of Germany international Andre Schurrle to Chelsea, but admitted defeat at the weekend.

"Chelsea and Jose Mourinho have made it clear during a meeting that Kevin will return to Chelsea next season," Reschke told Express.

"Chelsea do not want to send the player on another loan to any club. The thing is over, sadly. We were not able to link it with an Andre Schurrle transfer."

He did not comment on the possible effect this development could have on the potential Schurrle move, which has been in the pipeline for several weeks but has yet to be concluded.

Zorc told Ruhr Nachrichten that Dortmund "have to accept the contractual agreements… and De Bruyne has a valid contract with Chelsea."

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