Andre Schurrle Transfer Negotiations Stall, Latest Rumours on Chelsea Star

The proposed transfer of Chelsea star Andre Schurrle to Wolfsburg has hit a major bump, with the German club announcing on Sunday that there is no agreement in place for the winger just one day before the winter transfer window closes.

Several major publications and media outlets reported this transfer was all but completed in the past few days, including ITV Sport and Kick TV:

Those reports have turned out to be premature, however, as Wolfsburg sporting director Klaus Allofs told Wolfsburger Nachrichten, per Goal.com's Dan Brett, that the two clubs have yet to agree a transfer fee, and time is starting to run out:

"

There is no agreement at the moment. The clock is running out. Our options are getting less hour by hour.

It depends on money. We still would like to sign him.

"

The proposed transfer fee is the big issue holding up this transfer, and while it's not expected to have an impact on the deal that would bring Juan Cuadrado to Stamford Bridge from Fiorentina, per GianlucaDiMarzio.com's David Amoyal, the current stalemate is a blow to Chelsea's efforts in balancing the book.

Fabio Muzzi/Associated Press

The fee many British publications were reporting—£23 million, per ITV Sport—always seemed incredibly high for a bench player looking for a fresh start, and while Wolfsburg aren't exactly strapped for cash, it's understandable the Bundesliga side are unwilling to meet said valuation.

The New York Times' Stefan Bienkowski tried to make sense of the number but concluded the 24-year-old Germany international simply isn't worth such a large fee:

The Daily Mail took it one step further, citing an incredible price tag of £30 million:

Such a fee would be excellent business for the Blues, who have no need for a winger who acts mainly as a super-sub and depth on the bench. According to WhoScored.com, he's started just five Premier League matches this season.

Add the imminent arrival of Colombia international Cuadrado, who figures to be either a regular starter or the first winger off the bench, and there simply isn't any room in the squad for Schurrle.

But cashing in on the German is easier said than done. With Wolfsburg, the only club frequently linked with his services, his value isn't as high as some media outlets seem to believe, and the Wolves know it.

They'd love to land Schurrle and add him to their impressive squad, but negotiating from a position of strength, they won't budge too much on the eventual transfer fee. Get West London's Dan Levene reminded Blues fans of what they will be missing in the event of a permanent move:

Chelsea could hang on to Schurrle until summer, at which point there will be more time to negotiate, and other clubs may surface as potential destinations. But with Cuadrado set to join the squad, playing time will become even more scarce for the German, which, in turn, will lower his value.

As things stand, Chelsea's only options are to sell Schurrle well below the figure ITV and the likes quoted in the past few days or to hold on to the player and bank on teams willing to pay more in summer based on his potential alone.

The smart money appears to be on the latter option, with just one day remaining before the winter transfer window closes.

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