Werder Bremen sporting director Klaus Allofs has claimed he is closing in on the signing of Claudio Pizarro from Chelsea.

The 30-year-old spent last season on loan at the Bundesliga club, and scored 28 goals in all competitions.

Pizarro has since returned to the Blues, where he has vowed to take his chance to break into Carlo Ancelotti's team.

However, Werder remain confident they can lure him back to Germany - this time on a permanent deal.

"We are deep in talks with them [Chelsea] and we hope to be successful before August 13," said Allofs on DSF television. "And just to bring an end to all the rumours, if we do sign him then we would be buying him and I think that is also what Chelsea want."

Werder forward Boubacar Sanogo will be hoping the deal goes through soon, as he prepares to move to Saint-Etienne.

The Ivorian has attracted the interest of the French club, but Allofs has told him he is going nowhere while the personnel situation remains tight. "We only have three strikers so we cannot let him go," he said.