Schalke closing in on another transfer coup

FC Schalke 04 could be on the verge of another eye-catching addition as negotiations with former 1. FC Köln midfielder Dejan Ljubičić have reportedly entered their final phase. According to Transfermarkt, the 28-year-old is expected in Gelsenkirchen soon to conclude talks and potentially complete a move that would further underline Schalke’s ambitions to get back to the Bundesliga.

Ljubičić is currently under contract with Dinamo Zagreb, but his situation there has opened the door for a transfer. The Austrian international is no stranger to German football, having spent four seasons in the Bundesliga with Köln, where he made over 120 competitive appearances and established himself as a dynamic, box-to-box midfielder with an eye for goal.

Reports suggest Schalke are prepared to pay a fee of around €1 million to secure his services. The Royal Blues are said to be offering Ljubičić a long-term contract, a clear sign of how highly he is rated by the club’s decision-makers. Final details are still to be clarified, but confidence is growing that an agreement can be reached soon.

With talks now reportedly at an advanced stage, Schalke fans may not have to wait much longer to see whether the former Köln midfielder becomes the next piece in what is shaping up to be an ambitious transfer window in Gelsenkirchen, especially after Edin Džeko's arrival recently.