Voller: Leverkusen right to keep Schurrle

Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voller says the club made the right decision in keeping hold of Andre Schurrle.

Chelsea were reportedly chasing Germany international Schurrle in the off-season, and reportedly had a 16 million-pound offer rejected.

Bundesliga side Leverkusen held on to their star attacker, but Voller knows the chase to prise Schurrle away from the BayArena is likely to resume.

“At his level there will be always requests, not only by Chelsea,” he told Bild.

“But we take it easy.

“It was the right decision not to have sold Schurrle before (the) season.”

Another one of the club’s top performers who has been impressing of late is right-back Dani Carvajal, who joined Leverkusen from Real Madrid’s youth system in the off-season.

The Spanish giants have an option to buy the 20-year-old back, with the agreed amount rising each season, something Voller hopes will not happen for a little while yet.

“Of course it’s (Carvajal’s) dream to play for Real one day,” he said.

“But I don’t think it’ll happen next summer. Hopefully we will enjoy him for more time.”

Following the winter break, Leverkusen face Benfica in the Europa League knockout stages, with the first leg taking place in Germany on February 14.

Voller admitted it is a tricky tie, but hopes Leverkusen can go far in the competition.

He also believes the Bundesliga is represented well in the Champions League, picking out Bayern Munich as one of the favourites.

“With Benfica we have a tough opponent,” he said.

“But we want to stay in (the) competition (for) as long as possible.

“Dortmund has (a) chance in (the) Champions League. But my favourites are Barcelona and Bayern.”