Manchester City and former Fiorentina defender Matija Nastasic appears to be far away from a return to Serie A in the January transfer window.
Both AC Milan and Inter had been interested in the 21-year-old’s services but he has been strongly linked with a move to German side Schalke 04.
According to SkySports.com, the defender is close to a loan move to Schalke which includes the option to make the switch permanent.
A fee of €13 million has been touted for Nastasic which cannot be matched by either Milanese club.
Schalke’s general manager Horst Heldt also confirmed that his club was in advanced negotiations for Nastasic in an interview given to Sport Bild.
“We are negotiating back and forth, that’s how it goes,” said Heldt.
“You get closer and closer and in this case we are no longer far apart from each other.
“I am optimistic that we will get this done in the coming days.”
Nastasic has not made an appearance for City during the 2014-15 Premier League season but he played 25 times for Fiorentina and scored twice in the 2011-12 Serie A season.
