Chelsea Transfer News: Andre Schurrle Exit Rumours, Raheem Sterling Interest

Rumours have raged throughout the January transfer window regarding Chelsea’s pursuit of an attacking midfielder, and subsequently, it seems Andre Schurrle—the player tipped to leave the club mid-season—is keen to take his chances elsewhere.

According to Sky Sports, the German international wants to join Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg, who have been linked with the player for almost the entirety of the window. These reports have been given added credence by Sky Sports suggesting that Colombian winger Juan Cuadrado wants to move to Stamford Bridge.

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Bleacher Report’s European football expert Andy Brassell looks at how Chelsea should handle this particular dilemma:

Schurrle has proven himself to be a useful squad member since signing from Bayer Leverkusen. He’s scored some vital goals for the Blues, but has failed to establish a spot in the first team. Indeed, the majority of his best displays for Chelsea and the German national team as of late have come as an impact substitute.

Here’s how he’s fared compared to the Blues’ other midfield options this season, per Sky Sports News HQ:

There’s definitely a good player in there when it comes to Schurrle, but he’s not going to realise his true potential by making smatterings of appearances. Wolfsburg are a club who are on the up and up, and looking at their first team, the winger should command a regular starting berth alongside some of the finest young players in the Bundesliga.

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Reports in Germany (h/t Sport Witness) suggest that Chelsea will have to lower their asking price for the 24-year-old, though:

If they do agree a fee, the sale of Schurrle will surely prompt Chelsea into pursuing other options in this particular area of the field, with Cuadrado and Douglas Costa the two players most likely, per Simon Jones of the Mail Online. But somewhat surprisingly, Raheem Sterling has emerged as a potential target for the Blues according to reports.

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As noted by Gerard Meagher of The Guardian, the Liverpool winger rejected another new contract offer from Liverpool, causing Chelsea's hierarchy to take note of the player’s situation. According to Charles Perrin of the Express, Real Madrid are also keen on the 20-year-old and will bid £26 million for him this summer.

Squawka has provided statistics showcasing Sterling's performance this season:

The England international’s perennial unwillingness to pen a new deal will come as something of a concern to those of a red persuasion, but he still has in excess of two years to run on his current contract. With that in mind—not to mention the longstanding animosity between the Londoners and the Merseysiders—Liverpool selling to the Blues looks unlikely.

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Bleacher Report’s Chelsea correspondent Garry Hayes recently took a look at some other potential players that Chelsea should be targeting:

It seems Sterling and his agent are just looking to eek more money out of Liverpool and that a deal will eventually be struck. At the moment, he’s the best player in the Reds’ squad and Brendan Rodgers will surely be looking to build a team around his effervescent attacking talents. For now, this means that Anfield is the best place for Sterling to blossom.

While a new contract doesn’t necessarily eliminate the possibility of a transfer, it would make the Blues’ quest to sign the winger a pricey one. Couple that with the Reds' resistance to sell to another English club and Chelsea’s wealth of attacking midfield options, and this is a transfer that will not come to fruition.