Schalke striker and rising German national team star Leon Goretzka has decided he wants to move to Catalunya as his current contract nears its expiration.

 

According to Mundo Deportivo, Goretzka’s player agent, Jörg Neubauer , has been in Barcelona negotiating with the club at leastfour times in recent months. Such a disclosure is sure to upset Juventus and Liverpool, who have been hopeful of signing the young player.

 

With Goretzka’s contract set to expire in June, Barcelona now must decide whether they want to pay his release clause to Schalke in January, or risk waiting until the summer and paying him a bonus as a free agent. Though he has expressed his explicit desire to join Barcelona, they may not want to risk a change of heart from the German. 

 

Another aspect that may lead to him joining Barca in January is that the club figures the cost of his release and the cost of a bonus are similar, so they may want to bring him into the fold sooner, for the same amount of money.