Chelsea Transfer News: Andre Schurrle Exit Talk Grows, Latest on Gerard Pique

Andre Schurrle is "fighting for his Chelsea future" ahead of the January transfer window, according to Rob Beasley of The Sun (subscription required, h/t ESPN FC).

Nick Sutton of BBC Radio 4 tweeted the aforementioned newspaper's back-page headline:

Schurrle is currently sidelined with an infection he carried through October, according to Reuters and via The Guardian. The 24-year-old has been unable to establish a consistent run in Jose Mourinho's first team and could be deemed "excess baggage" as the boss goes in search of winter reinforcements, a possibility noted in ESPN FC's report.

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The German has made 10 appearances across the Premier League and Champions League this season, per WhoScored.com. He has netted two in the former competition—pivotal strikes during the win over Burnley and draw with Manchester City—but is outlined to be on a "dismal run of form" in Beasley's report.

This is perhaps harsh, particularly with Schurrle's recent illness in mind, but there's no doubt the World Cup winner is yet to hit top gear. His energy has been lacking in comparison to last season, and sloppiness has crept into his game.

Just 78.9 percent of Schurrle's passes have found their mark in the Premier League this campaign, according to WhoScored. Similarly, he has delivered 0.4 crosses per match and managed the same amount of successful dribbles each appearance. Mourinho rarely stands for such inefficiency and has subsequently favoured the more industrious Willian instead.

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Charlie Skillen of MailOnline recently suggested Borussia Dortmund want Schurrle as an eventual replacement for Marco Reus. This could sway Reus' Westfalenstadion exit heavily in Chelsea's favour and allow Mourinho to add another frightening forward to his squad. Reus is allegedly "looking at a switch to Chelsea" ahead of other Premier League suitors, as noted by James Dickenson of the Daily Express.

Mourinho is a shrewd dealer in the transfer market—highlighted by last season's sale of Kevin De Bruyne and Juan Mata before he brought in Kurt Zouma, Nemanja Matic and Mohamed Salah—so it wouldn't be a shock to see the Portuguese boss engineer a deal with the Bundesliga club.

UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules ensure value for money is needed. This is something Mourinho could unearth with the signing of Barcelona defender Gerard Pique, who is set to have "crisis talks" over his future at the Camp Nou, per Ed Malyon of the Mirror.

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Despite a lack of playing time under new boss Luis Enrique, Pique was recently outlined as "a vital player for the club" by his Blaugrana team-mate Xavi, per Anthony Chapman of the Daily Express.

He would likely be used in a rotational role at Chelsea, where he could offer useful respite to John Terry and Gary Cahill, who have started all of the side's Premier League matches together this season.

Mourinho possesses an immensely talented squad, as demonstrated by Chelsea's unbeaten run atop the domestic division. Any sniff of weakness—a misperforming player or lack of cover—will see the manager act, however. Mourinho isn't one to let his stars become comfortable and showed during the last winter transfer window that he's more than willing to uproot his squad during the season.

Schurrle may be waiting nervously as a result despite his potential to be an important player for the west London club across the remainder of the campaign.