Andre Schurrle is a German footballer whose primary positions are forward and winger. He has been signed to Chelsea  from German football club Bayer Leverkusen, for a fee of £19.4m. He is currently 22 years old and stands at 1.84m (6 foot).

Background

Schurrle has played for 2 German teams over the last 4 years.  FC  Mainz and Bayer Leverkusen.  He has made a huge rise over the last three seasons, thanks to his  speed on the wing and brilliant first touch. Other strengths include his shooting from distance and through balls.

What can Schurrle bring to Chelsea? He is able to play both as winger or striker. Since Chelsea’s strikers have been lacking this season, Schurrle may improve this although it is likely he will play on the flank and come inside and shoot. Alternatively he may help the three attacking midfield positions for Chelsea.

The club’s statement on the website read that the deal is “subject to the completion of legal documentation and related matters, including personal terms and passing a medical.”

Stats

He’s also played 14 games for 3 goals and 1 assist for Leverkusen in Europe and 21 times for the German first team with 6 goals

Fantasy premier league perspective

There’s no doubt that Schurrle has a good goal record and has the abilty to provide assists and goals to top up his points tally and bring an all round game to the fantasy premier league table.  The main questions over Schurrle from a  fantasy premier league perpsective will be firstly his fantasy premier league position, I’m assuming he will be a midfielder rather than a forward which would greatly enhance his standing but we wont know until the game re opens.  Secondly his game time under new coach Mourinho which is doubtful considering that he wasnt a Mourinho original signing.  The other issue on game time is the abundance of attacking midfielders there already.  You have to assume that Hazard and Mata will play which leaves at best 1 further attacking midfield position.  The best scenario is that he starts wide left in a 4-3-3- but in a 4-2-3-1 he could miss out to Hazard on the left.  Its possible he could get  ahead of Oscar and play behind the stiker or in some position in the midfield 3 behind the striker but its all too difficult to predict at the moment.  What is in his favour is that  Mourinho is known for his pressing and counter attack game and Schurrle with his pace and shooting from distance is suited to this game.   Oscar certainly has the defensive qualities and shooting to play this game as well but ot Schurrles pace.  Schurrle joining has to mean the end for Moses in my mind and he looks like a possible Everton signing under his old mentor Martinez. 

Using Schurrle excellent returns from last season and factoring in some rotation, a few YCs and some bonus points, if he is a key part of Mourinhos squad that could get him to 160 points.  This would have made him the 9th top scoring midfielder.

In summary its a monitor for me.  I look his all round game with a good ratio of goals and assists and his attacking midfield bias.  I just want to see how he fits in to the team and what his game time prospects are.  Also depending on what Mourinho does to the style of play its hard to look past Mata or Hazard for Chelsea midfield exposure unless there’s a major price differential and even then ‘m not convinced

Stats from www.transfermarkt.co.uk