Chelsea have slapped a £25million price tag on wantaway midfielder Kevin De Bruyne.

De Bruyne is desperate to leave Stamford Bridge having started just five games this season.

He is looking to be included in this summer’s Belgian World Cup squad and increasingly feels a move away from the Blues is the only way to secure his seat on the plane to Brazil.

Wolfsburg are leading the race for his signature and are locked in negotiations with Chelsea, while Bundesliga rivals Bayer Leverkusen and Schalke remain interested.

De Bruyne enjoyed a successful loan spell at Werder Bremen last year and is keen on a return to Germany, with Wolfsburg his first-choice as the struggle for his signature continues.

But the huge asking price, almost four times what Chelsea paid Genk for him two years ago, is proving a stumbling block to a potential deal.

Wolfsburg, who are understood to have met with Blues officials on Monday, do not want to pay more than £18 million and are willing to wait for Chelsea’s stance to soften.

Atletico Madrid are prepared to take the winger on loan, however De Bruyne is believed to be pushing for a permanent move away from SW6 this winter.

Chelsea are agonising over the decision to allow the 22-year-old to leave on a permanent basis as the club’s hierarchy still believe the youngster has huge potential.

Should De Bruyne be sold, it would expedite a move for Inter’s Fredy Guarin, who is believed to be closing in on a move to Jose Mourinho’s side.