Chelsea have reportedly been told by Bayer Leverkusen that any further bids for Andre Schurrle will be rejected.
Schurrle has been on Chelsea’s radar for some time as the Blues look to replace Didier Drogba, who left the club at the end of last season.
Napoli striker Edinson Cavani and Porto’s Brazilian forward Hulk are both on Chelsea’s shortlist, but agreeing a fee is proving to be a problem.
Chelsea recently had a bid in the region of £16million for Schurrle rejected by Leverkusen, with the club’s general manager Rudi Voller insisting the 21-year-old would not be sold as the Bundesliga outfit would be “unable to sign a replacement.”
Earlier this month it was reported that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was ready to return with an improved offer of around £20m, but according to the Daily Mail, the Bundesliga club have no plans to let him leave the club this month.
Leverkusen CEO Wolfgang Holzhauser was quoted as saying: “We will not sell him this season, no matter how much they [Chelsea] want him and no matter how much they offer.
“Next year may be different, but he will not leave this season.”
And according to Tuesday’s report, next year may be different as Schurrle’s contract, which runs until 2016, contains an escape clause which would allow him to leave the BayArena summer for a fee of £23.5m.
The Germany international recently stated that he was interested in making the move to Stamford Bridge.
“Chelsea’s interest was really concrete,” Schurrle told Kicker.
“They would have been a very interesting option for me.
“I understand Leverkusen’s decision not to let go of me, though.”
As well as looking to sign a striker, Chelsea boss Di Matteo is also keen on bringing in Marseille defender Cesar Azpilicueta and Wigan winger Victor Moses before the transfer window closes.
