Bayer Leverkusen have rejected Chelsea’s £17 million bid for Germany international Andre Schurrle, according to the Daily Mail.
The former Ludwigshafener SC youth starlet made 31 league appearances for Leverkusen last season, bagging seven goals and three assists.
Schurrle earned him a place in Germany’s Euro 2012 squad after a successful debut season with Leverkusen.
The pacy forward made two appearances for Jogi Löw’s side at the 2012 UEFA European Championship in Poland-Ukraine, including a start against Greece in the quarter-finals.
Wolfgang Holzhauser, the chief executive officer of Bayer 04 Leverkusen Football Club, has revealed that the Bundesliga club rejected the European Cup champions’ formal bid for Schurrle.
“We have received a very concrete offer from Chelsea for Andre Schurrle worth over €20m,” said Holzhauser.
“Both clubs shoved figures back and forth for a while, but we eventually opted to hold on to Andre.”
Chelsea sign George Brady
In other news, Chelsea FC have signed 15-year-old AS Cannes starlet George Brady to a three-year contract, the Daily Mail reports.
The 6ft 4in defender was being closely watched by City, United, Arsenal and Spurs, and has been dubbed one of the best young prospects in European football.
Additionally, he happens to be the nephew of West Ham United chairman and former managing director of
Birmingham City F.C. Karren Brady.
The Blues coughed up £250,000 to sign the teenager.
Fiorentina submit bid for Marouane Chamakh
ACF Fiorentina are actively pursuing out-of-favour Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh, the Daily Mail understands.
Arsene Wenger has brought the likes of Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud to the Emirates Stadium this summer, fueling speculation that Chamakh will be sold before the English Premier League season starts on 18 August 2012.
Chamakh started one league game for the Gunners in 2011-12, with his only goal coming in a 4-3 loss to Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on 17 September 2011.
Meanwhile, Fiorentina netted just 37 goals in 38 Serie A matches last season.
The Florence-based club have already lost midfielder Riccardo Montolivo to Serie A giants AC Milan, and it’s just a matter of time before Montenegro international Stevan Jovetić leaves the Stadio Artemio Franchi for greener pastures.
In short, Fiorentina need a striker and Arsenal have one to sell. Some may call it a match made in heaven, while others will refrain from such a claim.
With that said, the 28-year-old Moroccan striker is surely set to leave north London this summer, and Florence, Tuscany would not be a bad destination at all.
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