Chelsea’s brilliant Bundesliga transfer targets head-to-head

Chelsea's 0-0 bore draw with Fulham has further reinforced the notion that the club need to bring in a goal scorer and it seems Roman Abramovich now has his eyes fixed on Germany for his next big signing. With Bayer Leverkusen's Andre Schurrle and Bayern Munich man Mario Gomez both in the spotlight, talkSPORT pit the two strikers head-to-head...

What's the latest?
Andre Schurrle has long been linked with a move to Chelsea and it's believed that Bayer Leverkusen rejected a Blues bid for his services in July 2012. Fresh reports claim that Roman Abramovich hasn't given up hope on signing the striker, however, and that the oligarch is mulling over making a new approach for his services in January. It seems Schurrle isn't the peak of Chelsea's ambition, as it's claimed that Abramovich also fancies trying to tempt Bayern Munich's star striker Mario Gomez to the Bridge. Chelsea may find it difficult convince either club to sell such key players, but money talks.

Head-to-head

Andre Schurrle
Though still only 22 years old, Andre Schurrle already has 18 Germany caps and seven goals with his nation to his name. His club scoring record isn't quite as good, with 14 goals in 57 appearances for Leverkusen, but that can partly be attributed to him playing out wide rather than in his natural central position. His versatility is an attractive feature of his game, however, as he could feasibly play in the same side as Roman Abramovich's pet project, Fernando Torres.

Mario Gomez
While Schurrle is still in the early stages of his career, at 27 Mario Gomez is experiencing his peak years as a striker and that's reflected in his stats. In the 2010/11 Bundesliga campaign he scored 39 goals in 45 games for Bayern Munich and he bettered that last season with 41 in 52. Chelsea will no doubt be heartened by the brace he scored against Manchester City in September 2011, while bagging the winner in Bayern's 2-1 victory over Real Madrid in the first leg of their 2011/12 Champions League semi-final clash helped his stock to rise further. His international record is also enviable, with 25 goals in 57 appearances for Germany, including three at Euro 2012, proving that he can continue scoring goals without the presence of Bayern partners in crime Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery.

How likely is a deal?

Andre Schurrle
Bayer Leverkusen have so far resisted Chelsea's advances for their player, with chief executive Wolfgang Holzhauser stating that the club rejected an offer in excess of €20m (approximately £16.1m) for the player in July 2012. The Blues will need to increase their offer if they hope to make the German side reconsider, but that could also result in them paying over the odds for a player who hasn't been prolific since he made the step up from Mainz to bigger side Leverkusen.

Mario Gomez
In principle, Bayern won't want to sell one of their biggest stars and when looking at his numbers over the last two seasons, that's unsurprising. The German side are one of the favourites to make it to the Champions League final again this season and possibly even remedy their failure to lift the trophy last year, so flogging one of their key players looks unlikely for a club with such a proud European history and ambitions to add to that. Perhaps a mammoth bid which would allow Bayern to sign an adequate replacement would be entertained, but if Chelsea are going to enter the realms of silly money, they'd perhaps be better off targeting Radamel Falco, who is one year younger than the German.

Video evidence

They say
“We were presented with a very concrete offer from Chelsea for Andre of beyond the 20 million euro mark. The sum was pushed back and forth between the two clubs. We ultimately chose Andre. He's very valuable for us. He also made it clear he would like to stay with us.” Bayer Leverkusen chief executive Wolfgang Holzhauser in July 2012

“Gomez doesn't run much with the ball. He's a technician of the highest order, but only within shooting range; he's almost two-footed, and more than useful with his head.” Bundesliga journalist Raphael Honigstein on Gomez

Chelsea fans, would you rather sign Gomez or Schurrle, and which of the players is more likely to come to Stamford Bridge? Leave your thoughts below...