Andre Schurrle
Andre Schurrle has scored 11 goals and contributed six assists in the Bundesliga for Bayer Leverkusen this season. Reuters

Chelsea’s proposed transfer for Bayer Leverkusen forward Andre Schurrle is being delayed due to Kevin de Bruyne’s refusal to move in the other direction on loan, according to the Daily Mail.

Late last week, Schurrle’s agent had revealed that a deal could well be completed in a matter of days.

"I am hoping for a solution around the weekend," Ingo Haspelt told Bild. "I am awaiting information from Leverkusen or Chelsea. I can only repeat that Chelsea want Schurrle, otherwise they would not be negotiating."

The Germany international is believed to have been a target for Chelsea since Andre Villas-Boas’s time as manager and was the subject of a rejected bid last summer. Still, a deal finally looked like going ahead with young Belgian midfielder De Bruyne joining Leverkusen on a season-long loan.

But the 21-year-old, who has spent this season on loan at Werder Bremen is said to be keen to take up Borussia Dortmund’s offer of a five-year permanent deal.

According to the Mail, Dortmund are prepared to pay £13 million for De Bruyne, who has yet to make a competitive appearance for Chelsea since joining the club from Genk in 2012.

With Chelsea likely to sign at least one striker this summer, it is believed that Fernando Torres could soon bring his difficult time at Stamford Bridge to an end. The Spain international has been linked with a move back to former club Atletico Madrid, while Fiorentina have also been cited as suitors.

However, the Serie A side’s sports director Daniele Prade does not believe that Torres is a realistic target.

"If these big names are linked to Fiorentina, it means that we are considered a great team,” he said, according to Sky Sports. “But some players right now are outside of the parameters of Italian football, especially in regard to wages."

Another forward Chelsea are rumored to be looking to recruit is Ajax starlet Viktor Fischer. The 18-year-old only made his full debut this season but has created quite a stir having scored nine goals in the Eredivisie.

Several of Europe’s top clubs have been linked to the Denmark international and the Daily Express reports that Chelsea are weighing up whether to make a bid.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are also thought to be one of a number of clubs interested in Sevilla midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia. The 20-year-old has impressed in his first season in Spain since joining from Lens and the Sun reports that Real Madrid, Manchester City and Chelsea are among the clubs trailing the player. Despite moving for just £3.5 million last summer, it is now claimed that he could fetch as much as £17 million.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has also confirmed that he is a fan but conceded that competition is intense for the France Under-20 international.

“I don’t really want to talk about Kondogbia too much because everyone’s after him at the moment,” he said, according to the Sun.

“When you ask ‘Are you also interested?’ what do you expect me to say?”

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