Sami Khedira set for Bundesliga return with Schalke?

Roberto Di Matteo’s Schalke are aiming to secure the signature of Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira, with the German World Cup winner’s contract set to expire this summer.

The Royal Blues, 300/1 with Coral to reach this year’s Champions League final, will be confident of luring the former Stuttgart star to the Bundesliga, having fallen out of favour in Spain.

Madrid’s defensive midfielder has featured only 16 times this season, with the sought-after central enforcer having been frequently tipped for a departure from the Bernabeu in recent seasons.

A sensational swoop for Khedira could help the club massively next season, as they aim to emulate Wolfsburg’s rise to domestic prominence during this current campaign, and a slot among Europe’s elite looking increasingly likely again for 2015/16.

Schalke have climbed to fourth in the German top-flight, just two points adrift of third-placed Borussia Monchengladbach, and have reached this year’s Champions League last 16 stage.

However, Di Matteo’s defiant outfit are on the verge of exiting Europe’s most prestigious club competition, after suffering a 2-0 home defeat to target Khedira’s current employers Madrid, who are 3/1 favourites to lift the trophy this year.

The Galacticos rallied to a comfortable victory thanks to goals from Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo, with Schalke’s hopeful new signing Khedira missing the game through injury.

Although, the gallant German has fallen well down the pecking order in the reigning European champions’ midfield ranks, with international teammate Toni Kroos, Croatia playmaker Luka Modric and Spain star Isco featuring heavily this season.

Di Matteo will be keen to secure Khedira’s services, with the former Bundesliga bruiser available on a free transfer this year. The midfield maestro has the ferocious defensive qualities that could help Schalke become an even stronger outfit next season.