Sunday, 4th November, 2012
Schalke sporting director Horst Heldt believes that the German giants have a good chance of persuading in-demand Lewis Holtby to sign a new contract at the club.
Heldt explained that the 22-year-old midfielder is in the final stages of negotiations with the Ruhr giants, though the club are taking nothing for granted given they understand his desire to one day play in England.
Schalke just hope that Holtby will put that dream on ice for a little longer and agree to a prolonged stay in Gelsenkirchen.
The Germany international’s contract at the club expires in the summer and his agent has confirmed concrete offers have already been made by other sides, a fact Heldt accepts.
Holtby has been most closely linked with English Premier League duo Arsenal and Liverpool, and the chance to play for either would no doubt be tempting for the midfielder, who has an English father.
But not too tempting, hopes Heldt.
relatedNewsStory"I know that there are concrete offers and clubs interested", Heldt told German daily Bild.
"Lewis has English roots. I understand that he is pursuing his dream, but we are in the final stages [of contract talks].
"I believe that we can offer him quite a bit.
"But he is a free transfer, so at the end of the day the decision lies with him."
It remains to be seen whether Holtby will choose to extend his stay at Schalke, a club he joined in 2009 from Alemannia Aachen, or head elsewhere.
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