• Chelsea hope to sign Bayer Leverkusen striker for £20m
• Liverpool and Spurs potentially interested in Sturridge
Chelsea will consider loaning out Daniel Sturridge if they can push through the purchase of Bayer Leverkusen's André Schürrle before Friday night's transfer deadline.
The European champions are hoping a bid of around £20m will secure the Germany forward after seeing an initial offer worth £16m rejected earlier in the summer. Leverkusen have insisted they are resistant to a sale but, with the 21-year-old thought to be attracted by the move, the possibility remains that a deal could be struck while Chelsea prepare to play in Friday evening's Super Cup fixture against Atlético Madrid, here in Monaco.
Schürrle's arrival would allow the London club to consider loaning Sturridge out in search of first-team football. The striker, who has been included in Roy Hodgson's England squad for the World Cup qualifying games against Moldova and Ukraine, is effectively serving as back-up to Fernando Torres at Stamford Bridge but would welcome the opportunity to gain regular competitive action. Liverpool could yet revive an interest given Andy Carroll's loan move to West Ham United, though Tottenham Hotspur could pursue a player who enjoyed a relatively productive spell under André Villas-Boas over the first half of last season.
Chelsea will seek to move on Yossi Benayoun and Florent Malouda – both omitted from Roberto Di Matteo's squad for the game in Monaco – with the Israeli midfielder speaking to two clubs over a possible year-long loan move. Malouda has entered the final year of his contract though his wages have put off potential suitors. Michael Essien could yet be moved on if late interest emerges, though the Chelsea manager is conscious of a potentially draining fixture schedule ahead.
"It's important we try and utilise our squad and involve everybody," Di Matteo said. "About 99% of my players are internationals, so we have a very good depth to the squad. From September on, we'll be playing solidly – if we get through in the cups – every three days until March. There'll be plenty of games, injuries and suspensions: games enough for everybody."
Read more... Chelsea may loan out Daniel Sturridge if André Schürrle deal is done
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