Schalke have opened contract talks with Netherlands striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar with the 31-year-old's current deal over at the end of the 2014-15 season, reports Bild.
The Dutch striker has scored 62 goals in 108 Bundesliga games since joining the Royal Blues from AC Milan in 2010, and has directly been involved in 84 strikes as his side prepare to face Augsburg on Friday evening.
Good news for #Schalke: @KJ_Huntelaar loves facing #FCA (5 BL games, 5 goals). #s04 pic.twitter.com/3zzD1xgXaC
- FC Schalke 04 (@s04_en) October 31, 2014
Despite some long-term injuries, the 31-year-old has hit double figures in all but his first season for the club. This season, he has struck three times in eight league games, and also provided goals for Schalke in each Champions League match of the current campaign.
It comes as no surprise that the Royal Blues are keen on prolonging Huntelaar's contract, and German tabloid Bild revealed that club representatives met with the player's agent to discuss a new deal at Schalke's 4-3 Champions League victory against Sporting Lisbon in mid-October.
"Yes, we had good talks," Schalke sporting executive Horst Heldt confirmed in Bild. "Both sides have signalled their interest to continue the partnership."
According to the paper, Schalke have offered Huntelaar a fresh two-year-deal until 2017, and also a modest pay rise. The attacker currently earns a reported 6.75 million euros per year.
The Royal Blues also agreed a new contract with Japan international Atsuto Uchida on Thursday, with the 26-year-old full-back to remain a Schalke player until the summer of 2018.
Confirmed: Atsuto #Uchida has signed a new contract until 2018! More soon on http://t.co/GRA4JJZtcY... #s04 pic.twitter.com/6XQSVLEroi
- FC Schalke 04 (@s04_en) October 30, 2014
