Schalke are reportedly lining up Lukas Podolski as a replacement for the seemingly outbound Raul.
The Spanish striker has been a hit since arriving in Gelsenkirchen from Real Madrid in July 2010 but, with his lucrative contract set to expire next summer, he reportedly will have to take a salary cut if he is to remain with the Champions League semi-finalists. Such a loss of wages he is far from certain to accept, meaning that S04 will have to consider alternatives.
According to Bild, Schalke are planning to make a move for Germany international Podolski, who has been repeatedly linked with a move away from hometown club Koln.
However, when pressed on the issue by Sky Sports News HD, Schalke sporting director Horst Heldt would only say, “Lukas is a great player who has a contract in Koln. I will not say more.”
Podolski would most likely cost somewhere in the region of €15 million but Schalke could finance the deal with the money saved from the removal of both Raul and Jefferson Farfan, who is also out of contract next summer, from the club’s wage bill.
Podolski has strong emotional ties with his hometown club but has become increasingly frustrated with the side’s lack of progress as of late, and admitted “[he is] not forced to stay in Koln.”
A move to Schalke would allow him to live in Koln, with a commute to Gelsenkirchen just 70 kilometres.
The 26-year-old forward started his professional career at Koln and returned to the club in 2009 after a three-year spell with Bayern Munich.