Leon Goretzka is one of the most promising players from the Bundesliga at the moment and Schalke could lose the 22-year-old for free at the end of the season. It is criminal to not keep your players under contract but the Royal Blues are regular offenders, with Joel Matip and Sead Kolasinac being other examples of talents leaving on the cheap.

Liverpool have been linked with a move for the German midfielder but reports from Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona are in pole position to sign Goretzka.

Even though the player is a free agent at the end of the season, Ernesto Valverde, the Barcelona coach, wants to sign the midfielder for a cut-price deal in the winter window.

The report claims that the Catalan giants have already spoken to the player’s agent Jorg Neubauer and that they will be bidding for the talented midfielder in the January transfer window.

Goretzka has refused to sign a new contract with the Royal Blues and it does look like he will be sold in the next transfer window, as losing out on another payday would be rather comical for the Bundesliga side.

This is a major blow for us as we were looking to bring in more talent to our midfield. It was a big surprise that we were able to keep hold of Coutinho despite Barcelona’s repeated bids. The move for Goretzka could be an answer to us not letting go of Coutinho and with the German coming in for free, give or take, it will be a great deal for the Catalan giants.

Barcelona could be looking to bid between £8.8million to £13.2million (€10 million to €15 million) for the 22-year-old, according to the report, and that would be one of the biggest steals in recent times.

Schalke have not given up yet and are willing to offer Goretzka a staggering contract which is worth £8.8 million-a-season, to keep him in Germany.

It is going to be an interesting winter for Schalke and Goretzka but that cannot be the same feeling for us. The German could have been a great signing for us but Barca seem to hold the aces in this deal and that isn’t good for any other club.

https://youtu.be/XriOaJK9fzk