Schalke make huge offer to Liverpool, Arsenal target

Schalke are prepared to make Leon Goretzka the highest paid player at the club in a bid to keep the midfielder away from the clutches of Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham and host of big European suitors.

The 22-year-old midfielder’s contract expires in the summer, but the Bundesliga side are so desperate to keep the player they have already made him a basic €10million a year offer, with another €2million available in bonuses.

That offer has already been put on the table, according to Sport, but there has been no indication whether Goretzka will accept the offer, which equates to almost €200,000 a week.

Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Juventus are all tracking the player, along with Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham.

Earlier this month reports in Italy claimed Juve had won the race to sign the Germany star.

“Juve- Goretzka: Yes”, reas the front page of Italian paper Corriere dello Sport, but that came just days after a report suggested Liverpool had sealed a move for Goretzka.

The Don Balon report claimed Jurgen Klopp had clinched the signing of Goretzka and he would move to Anfield in the next transfer window, rather than at the end of the season when his contract expires.

Last month Germany assistant boss Oliver Bierhoff inadvertently revealed that Goretzka, who has reportedly snubbed Barcelona over an unsatisfactory contract offer, will be joining the vast number of German stars already playing in the Premier League.

“We feel that England, because of the amount of money you have with TV rights, young talented players like Leroy Sane and [Schalke’s] Leon Goretzka are moving to England and this is not good for our league but also for the quality of our game,” said Bierhoff.

The midfielder has emerged as one of the most in-demand players in Europe, scoring four goals in 10 Bundesliga games this season.