Race hots up for Schalke star

A number of England’s top sides are showing interest in Schalke defender Kyriakos Papadopoulos, according to Bild.

The talented defender is currently sidelined through a knee injury, and it could easily happen that he has played his final game for the club.

Bild reports that the 21-year-old is on the radar of Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City.

Schalke are not too keen on selling the highly rated centre-back, but they won’t be able to do anything if a club meet his €22.5 million release clause.

Despite his fragile age, Papadopoulos has already proved his worth at the biggest stage and he looks ready to leave the Miners for greener pastures in the summer transfer window.

The Greece international, who joined Schalke from Olympiakos in the summer of 2010, has made a total of 57 Bundesliga appearances for the Miners, scoring 3 goals in the process.