Robbie Kruse Agrees Terms w/ Leverkusen

Robbie Kruse will imminently be unveiled by UEFA Champions League-bound Bayer Leverkusen as its replacement for Chelsea-target Andre Schurrle as the rapid rise of the Australia striker continues unabated.

Sources close to the 24-year-old striker – currently battling to help Fortuna Dusseldorf avoid plummeting back to 2. Bundesliga after a season in the top flight – confirm he has agreed terms with German powerhouse Leverkusen with the club now just negotiating the finer points of a transfer fee in the region of $A2 million.

It’s understood Kruse will sign a three-year deal and Fortuna, which has him under contract for another 14 months, is planning for life without its key import.

Leverkusen, sitting third in the Bundesliga and with a UCL spot all but locked up, has been in discussions with Fortuna for several weeks – and now, with Germany forward Schurrle, 22, set to move to Stamford Bridge for $30 million, it has found itself a replacement at a bargain price.

With four goals and nine assists in 30 appearances this season, the former Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory attacking weapon has been one of the brightest sparks in a struggling team, which is facing the prospect of a relegation-promotion play-off following its 2-1 loss to Mitch Langerak's Borussia Dortmund at the weekend.

Fortuna sits in 15th spot with three games left – only separated from relegation zone dweller Augsburg on goal difference. Hoffenheim is three points further back and Greuther Furth (18 points) is already relegated.

A source in Germany close to the deal said: “Robbie has been so impressive this season, there is no way he would not be staying in Bundesliga.

“There have been various clubs keen on him and now an announcement is very close. He has shown what is possible if you have the talent and combine that with hard work and dedication.

“Joining a bigger club is obviously a huge opportunity for him.”

The Bundesliga runner-up in 2010-2011, Leverkusen has co-coaches, Sami Hyypia and Sascha Lewandowski, at the helm.

rwo power wrote:Mitch Langerak is at Dortmund who are arguably better than Leverkusen. Mustafa Amini is at Dortmund, too, BTW. I hope he will soon manage to break into the senior team and get some playing time.