Bayern boss admits race for Leon Goretzka remains open

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The race to sign Schalke star Leon Goretzka next summer remains open
Bayern Munich manager Jupp Heynckes admitted club haven't agreed a deal
Manchester United, Liverpool and Barcelona are interested in signing Goretzka
Heynckes and his Bayern squad are jetting off to Qatar for a training camp

Published: 10:26 EDT, 2 January 2018 | Updated: 10:26 EDT, 2 January 2018

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The race to sign Schalke's Leon Goretzka remains open after Bayern Munich manager Jupp Heynckes admitted the club hadn't yet tied down a deal.

Heynckes described 22-year-old midfielder Goretzka, whose Schalke contract expires at the end of the season, as a 'bright, intelligent boy.'

He has been linked with a host of leading European clubs, including Liverpool, Manchester United, Barcelona and Juventus, though Bayern are reportedly in pole position.

Bayern Munich manager Jupp Heynckes admits the club haven't yet tied down a deal to sign Schalke midfielder Leon Goretzka, whose contract expires in the summer

Manchester United, Liverpool and Barcelona are also interested in 22-year-old Goretzka

Schalke sporting director Christian Heidel insisted on Monday that nothing had yet been agreed and Heynckes echoed that.

'You'll have to wait and see,' he said as Bayern jetted off to Qatar for warm weather training.

'If I read it correctly, his manager [Jorg] Neubauer said that they have not yet decided. The Spaniards are still there in the race.

Goretzka (left) helped Germany win the FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia last summer

Heynckes described Goretzka as a 'bright, intelligent boy' who 'knows what is best for himself'

'He is a bright, intelligent boy. He knows exactly what is best for himself.'

The form of Goretzka has partly explained why Schalke are currently second in the Bundesliga standings, albeit 11 points adrift of Bayern, and the midfielder also impressed in Germany's Confederations Cup win last summer.

And despite the setback of a stress fracture in his lower leg, Goretzka is still very much in demand.

New signing from Hoffenheim Sandro Wagner flew out to Qatar with the squad, with Bayern back in Bundesliga action away to Bayer Leverkusen on January 12.