A round-up of the biggest football transfer stories from across Europe, including the future of Chelsea winger Andre Schurrle and Premier League interest in Borussia Dortmund forward Marco Reus.
Andre Schurrle
VfL Wolfsburg are poised to sign Chelsea’s Germany international Andre Schurrle for a club record transfer, according to German media reports, after selling Croatia’s Ivica Olic to Hamburg on Friday.
It was Schurrle’s cross from which Mario Goetze scored the winning goal for Germany in the World Cup final last July, but the winger has failed to win a regular place under Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.
According to German daily Bild and magazine Kicker, Wolfsburg have agreed terms with Chelsea and the 24-year-old Schurrle is set to sign a four-year deal.
He will be returning to the Bundesliga after spells at Mainz and Leverkusen.
“I’m reasonably optimistic, but there are still a few problems which we have to solve,” Wolfsburg’s director of sport Klaus Allofs told Sky.
“We all want Andre to come to us and he also wants to return to the Bundesliga, but we need to exercise a bit of caution.”
“There are still a few obstacles to overcome and the ink isn’t dry yet.”
Schurrle’s agent Ingo Haspel confirmed to SID, an AFP subsidiary, that the deal is poised to be completed with “only a few discussions” still to be held.
Schurrle is reported to cost Wolves more than 30 million euros (DH 124.3 million), a new club record to better the 22 million Wolves paid Chelsea for Belgium midfielder Kevin de Bruyne a year ago.
Marco Reus
Another German-based rumour, a host of English Premier League clubs are reportedly interested in the services of Germany forward Marco Reus.
According to newspaper Bild, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United are all set to make approaches to Borussia Dortmund for the 25-year-old after Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich cooled their interest.
With Dortmund struggling at the bottom of the league table, their ability to convince Reus to stay has diminished and without the riches of the Champions League, may be forced to sell their prized assets.
Should Dortmund accept the need to sell, it is understood that Arsenal are leading the race for Reus.
However, should the London club fail in their efforts to sign the forward, it has been reported that Arsene Wenger will turn his attentions to Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin.
Pepe
Manchester City could be set to rekindle their interest in Pepe after media reports claimed the Portuguese defender is prepared to leave Real Madrid before the end of his contract.
Pepe, whose contract at the Bernabeu expires in 2016, has long been a target of City manager Manuel Pellegrini, who signed French centre-back Eliaquim Mangala in the summer after failing to lure the Madrid star to the Etihad.
Mangala has so far struggled to adapt to the English Premier League, and given Martin Demichelis’ advancing years, Pellegrini could once again attempt to sign Pepe after learning of his willingness to leave Real Madrid.
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace signed Senegal defender Pape Souare from French club Lille for an undisclosed fee on Friday.
Eagles chairman Steve Parish announced the deal on his Twitter feed, saying: “Delighted that papesouare has just this minute signed for cpfc. A warm welcome from all of us.”
Souare headed straight to London to complete his switch to the Premier League club after Senegal’s early exit from the African Cup of Nations this week.
The 24-year-old fullback is new Palace manager Alan Pardew’s third signing of the week after the arrivals of Jordon Mutch and Shola Ameobi.
Mutch has signed a four-and-a-half-year contract and Ameobi has joined until the end of the campaign.
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