German youngster is expected to join the Blues imminently.
New Chelsea head coach Jose Mourinho will make his first purchase in his second spell in charge of the west London club this week when the Portuguese agrees a deal to bring Bayer Leverkusen midfield player Andre Schurrle to Stamford Bridge for next season, according to exclusive reports in the Daily Mail.
The Germany international has been with the Bundesliga outfit for just two campaigns now, having signed for Leverkusen from fellow German side Mainz 05 on a long-term contract in the summer of 2011.
In the intervening two-year period the 22-year-old has proved himself to be one of the most impressive and sought-after midfield players on the Continent, with Schurrle having scored 23 goals in only 83 matches for Leverkusen during that time, including 18 strikes in just 65 league encounters.
And now Chelsea hope to finally tie up a £20 million-plus deal for the player when Mourinho manages a Rest of the World XI against Leverkusen in Michael Ballack’s testimonial on Wednesday, with Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voller confirming: “The main focus will be on Michael and quite rightly so.
“But we are working on a solution for Andre and it is inevitable I will speak to Mourinho afterwards.”
COMMENTS