Chelsea target was available for only £10.6m just five days ago

Sport Bild are reporting that Chelsea and Liverpool are looking at Werder Bremen forward Max Kruse.

It is no secret that Blues boss Antonio Conte wants a backup option to prospective new signing Alvaro Morata this summer. He has been seeking another forward since January when they were linked with Swansea’s Fernando Llorente. A report in the Telegraph last week reported they were also looking at Crystal Palace’s Christian Benteke, but it seems they are now scouting Kruse as well.

Since re-joining Bremen last summer from Wolfsburg, the German international has scored 15 goals in the Bundesliga. SportBild say that up until 15th July, the striker had a release of just €12m (£10.6m) which has now expired.

Chelsea may not need to spend a great deal more to land Kruse however. The German publication believes Bremen will let the player leave for €18million or £16million.

One factor that works against the Kruse signing is that he isn’t a target man. At 5ft 9, he does not have the aerial presence of a Llorente or Benteke.