Bayer Leverkusen chief executive has revealed that Chelsea have had an offer in excess of £16m rejected for their German striker Andre Schurrle.
The 21 year old has established himself as one of the most exciting talents in Germany after securing his move to Leverkusen at the end of last season from Mainz. The young star also featured in Joachim Loew’s squad for the Euros 2012 and started against Greece in the quarter finals. Schurrle has already been capped 17 times for Germany and has scored 7 times for the Mannschaft.
Chelsea have been interested in the German striker for a long time and tried to sign him in the summer of 2011 as well. Leverkusen chief executive Wolfgang Holzhauser was quoted as saying by German news agency SID: “We were presented with a very concrete offer from Chelsea for Andre of beyond the 20 million euro mark. The sum was pushed back and forth between the two clubs. We ultimately chose Andre.
“Andre is very valuable for us. He has also made it clear he would like to stay with us.”
Schurrle’s current contract runs till 2016 and it is believed that the Blues would have to pay in excess of £23.5m if they are to lure away the talented striker to Stamford Bridge.