by Ian Rush's Right foot » Sat Jul 30, 2005 4:36 pm
HERE WE GO!
Schalke are closing in on the signing of Milan Baros from Liverpool, according to coach Ralf Rangnick.
Rangnick has revealed that the Gelsenkirchen club have reached an agreement with the Czech Republic striker and are now set to negotiate a fee with the Premiership side.
"We have agreed everything with Baros and his agent," said Rangnick at Schalke's training ground on Saturday morning.
"Early next week, we will make moves towards Liverpool."
The Royal Blues are not prepared to pay the nine million euros (£6.2m) asking price for the 23-year-old striker, but Rangnick is confident a compromise can be found, with a loan move possible to allow Schalke to obtain the required funds for a permanent move.
"We have plenty of time and aren't going to give in to Liverpool's demands immediately," he added.
Schalke can afford to wait on a deal after Rangnick sealed another new signing, striker Soren Larsen, whose arrival was confirmed on Saturday.
Rangnick said of Larsen: "He will be arriving on Sunday or Monday at the latest for a medical and will then sign a contract."
Larsen had previously been blocked from leaving Swedish side Djurgarden, despite Schalke meeting the 1.2 million euros (£800,000) release fee in the player's contract.
However, both clubs have now reached an agreement and Larsen is expected to complete a move before Tuesday's Liga-Pokal final against Stuttgart in Leipzig.
Goodbye
....I'm the bee's knee, his legs and his arms.....