Bayer Leverkusen general manager Wolfgang Holzhauser has declared that the club wants a quick resolution over Chelsea target Andre Schurrle's transfer situation.

The Germany international has been a long-time target for the Blues. Roman Abramovich had offer in excess of €20m for the 22-year-old knocked back by the Bundesliga side last summer. However, the west London outfit have now returned for the forward and have already held advanced talks with Leverkusen, regarding a deal before the end of the season.

Andre Schurrle
Reuters

Discussing the Schurrle-Chelsea transfer saga, Holzhauser revealed that negotiations are still far from completion but the Germans are keen on resolving the situation as soon as possible, so that they have enough time to find a replacement by pre-season.

"Last year, we had an enquiry, but it came very late. This time, it is still relatively early, which is good. Andre is, alongside Mario Gotze, one of the best young players in Germany and if he leaves us, we will want cover for him. We want clarity as soon as possible," Holzhauser pointed out.

"We are still quite a long way apart in terms of certain details. There are always two options: either Andre stays here or he leaves," the German added.

Schurrle, who moved from Mainz to Leverkusen in 2011, has 11 goals and six assists to his name from 30 Bundesliga appearances this season.

Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voller had earlier stated that any deal to bring the forward to Stamford Bridge this summer rests on Blues' Belgian winger Kevin De Bruyne moving in the opposite direction.

De Bruyne is yet to feature for Chelsea, after arriving from native side Genk last summer for around £7 m. However, the 21-year-old has impressed during his loan spell in Bundesliga, with six goals and nine assists from 30 appearances for Werder Bremen, who are only just above the drop zone.

"The transfer of Schurrle is a question of the total package. There are some more items and De Bruyne is one of them. De Bruyne is a top alternative and can play a similar position like Andre. If a good player leaves we've got to sign another good, or even better player," Voller stressed.

The Blues are understood to be open to using De Bruyne as bait to land top target Schurrle. However, adding more twists to the saga is the Belgian, who is reportedly unwilling to become a makeweight for the deal, due to Borussia Dortmund's interest in him.

De Bruyne is stalling on the transfer to Leverkusen, after Dortmund expressed an interest, according to the Daily Mirror. With Bayern Munich triggering Mario Gotze's release clause earlier this week and Robert Lewandowski also expected to leave this summer, the Borussians are desperate to recruit some promising attacking players and have now turned their attentions to De Bruyne.