Borussia Dortmund’s Andre Schurrle was linked with a host of Premier League clubs in January but due to an injury to Andriy Yarmolenko, Peter Stoger opted for the winger to stay at Westfalenstadion. West Ham United were among the interested parties last month and according to reports, are still interested in the 27-year-old. David Moyes is plotting a summer transfer move and judging by Schurrle’s recent performances, the Hammers coach might have to come in with a revamped offer.
After enduring a rough 18-month period with the German outfit, Schurrle’s future in a Dortmund shirt looked bleak, to say the least. It looked like he was no longer favoured by either the manager or the club’s hierarchy. BVB CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke went on a rant expressing dissatisfaction with the former Chelsea attacker. But the past week paints a completely different story.
Schurrle started in the Bundesliga game against FC Koln and shone brighter than any of the players on the pitch. After Michy Batshuayi’s brace, he slotted in the winner with a wonder strike in the late stages of the game. He followed it up with another impressive display against Hamburger SV last weekend. The dribble past the opposition defence to assist Mario Gotze eventually was exquisite and the German looked menacing throughout the game.
It is quite evident that he has found his feet after a very long time and based on form, might just get the nod for the next few games as well.
However, in the current climate, nothing can be guaranteed. Dortmund already have a spree of young talent in the form of Christian Pulisic, Alexander Isak and Maximilian Philipp. Marco Reus is already close to making a return to the starting XI and he is expected to get fielded on the right ahead of the former Chelsea man.
Schurrle’s stint with the Blues ended in the summer of 2015 when the Ludwigshafen-born winger, moved to Wolfsburg for £24m. After an impressive 13 goals netted in 63 appearances, he moved to Dortmund for an undisclosed fee on 22 July 2016.
West Ham need a wide man who can supply the ball from the wide areas. In the current West Ham lineup of Manuel Lanzini, Marko Arnautovic and Andre Ayew, Schurrle can find a spot in the right wing position where he is capably suited. With a keen eye for goal, the 27-year-old made his name in the Bundesliga by cutting in from the left and terrorizing defences with his backdoor runs.
He can make the adjustment to the other wing as well having a dominant right foot. Schurrle is no slouch on the defensive end either and can bolster the Hammers lineup significantly next season.
However, we are yet to see if Stoger will sanction the move if Schurrle continues his run of form for the remainder of the 2017/18 campaign.
