Schalke dismiss speculation of Leon Goretzka joining Bayern Munich

Schalke general manager Christian Heidel has rubbished reports that Leon Goretzka is set to join Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.

Goretzka, 22, joined Schalke from Bochum in 2013 and is a regular starter in their midfield, with his contract at the club running until the summer of 2018.

Sky Deutschland has claimed that the midfielder will sign for Bayern this summer, but Heidel said the talk is just pure speculation.

"I have read the reports and they are absolute nonsense," Heidel said. "People shouldn't spread this information as if it's a done deal when it's merely speculation. It isn't fair. We have had no contact with Bayern and the speculation isn't acceptable."

Heidel added that Schalke are in negotiations to extend Goretzka's stay at the club.

"We remain in talks with Leon Goreztka and his agent Jorg Neubauer," he said. "I realise it is inevitable Leon Goretzka will perhaps at some stage move to a club at a higher sporting level than Schalke.

"But for a young player like Leon Goretzka it's definitely a question of when. If I judge him correctly, he would have said something to me if he had already made his decision to join another club."

Peter Neureurer, Goretzka's boss at his hometown club Bochum, said at the time of his departure for Schalke that he had "never seen an 18-year-old footballer with [his] potential," dubbing him the "talent of the century."

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