Chelsea Sign £8m Marko Marin From Werder Bremen
Managerless Londoners agree a deal to sign the young German international, with Romelu Lukaku likely to go the other way.
Roman Ambramovich's Chelsea have kicked off the summer's spending prematurely, ahead of what is likely to be a very busy summer of transfer business for the Champions League finalists, by signing German international Marko Marin from Werder Bremen. The club's official website today carried a confirmation message of the signing: "Chelsea Football Club have today (Saturday) agreed to sign Marko Marin from Werder Bremen," it read. "Both clubs have agreed a fee and the 23-year-old midfielder has agreed personal terms. "Marin, a German international, will join Chelsea in the summer."With no manager permanently in charge at Stamford Bridge it seems the oligarch owner is still pulling the strings behind the transfer deals (as he did for the January acquisition of Belgian winger Kevin de Bruyne who will join up with the squad for next season), though he will offer full control to Pep Guardiola in a bid to snare the former Barcelona boss. German international Marin, who was born in Yugoslavia but who qualifies to play for the Germans after moving their as a two year old has made 16 appearances for the full Germany side. He underwent a medical in London earlier this week, and Werder Bremen are said to want to take Chelsea's 18-year-old striker Romelu Lukaku on loan for next season as part of the deal. Lukaku is yet to push for a regular place in the Chelsea first team, but Marin would likely be a first team option from day one, having made over 150 career appearances at Borussia Monchengladbach and Werder Bremen. He plies his trade in an attacking midfield role or as a winger and will offer options to a Chelsea team that is likely to look a lot different to that which lines up to face Bayern Munich in the Champions league final in Munich next month. What do you think, Chelsea fans? Is this acquisition a statement of intent, and a sign of good things to come? Let us know below. Ever wanted to write about Chelsea? We are currently looking for bloggers to look after our brand new Chelsea blog. If interested, please contact editor@whatculture.com for more details.