Schalke chief bullish over bid to keep Leon Goretzka

Schalke are confident they can keep hold of midfielder Leon Goretzka, whose future is set to resolved imminently.

The 22-year-old is out of contract at the end of June and both Sport Bild and Marca have reported that he has opted to join Bayern Munich at the end of the season.

The player’s agent Jorg Neubauer has denied the reports and claimed the Germany international is yet to make a decision on his future with Liverpool, Arsenal, Barcelona and Manchester United all interested in the player.

Schalke sporting executive Christian Heidel has confirmed their is an offer from the club on the table for Goretzka and that they cannot do anymore in their attempts to keep hold of the highly rated star.

An offer, believed to be in the region of €12million per year, has been put to Goretzka – a deal which would make the highest paid player in Bundesliga history.

Heidel told Funke Mediengruppe: “It will not be long before a decision is announced, and it will not drag out until the end of January.

“Schalke cannot offer any more nor do any more than we already have.

“Leon wanted to wait and see how Schalke’s sporting development went. It’s been six months.

“We are in the best possible position in the league table behind Bayern and have reached the DFB Pokal quarterfinals.”