Schalke are expected to take up a permanent signing option on Tottenham midfielder Nabil Bentaleb.
However, the player could then seal a return to the Premier League in the summer amid reported interest from Liverpool and Manchester United.
Algerian international Bentaleb joined Schalke on loan last summer and the German club __have the option to make the move permanent for a fee of £17.8million.
The 22-year-old Spurs academy graduate has impressed during his spell in the Bundesliga so far and it has been claimed that Schalke will automatically take up the option to sign him on a permanent deal after his 20th league game.
However the midfielder's future beyond the summer is still up in the air as, according to reports in France, the former Lille youngster has a gentleman's agreement with Schalke that he will be allowed to leave if they receive an acceptable bid at the end of the season.
It has been suggested that Bentaleb expects Schalke not to stand in his way if they receive an offer of around £25m to £30m from one of Europe's top clubs in the summer window.
The Tottenham loanee is said to __have attracted attention with his performances in Germany, and Man United and Liverpool are claimed to have been keeping tabs on him.
And so the Algeria international could yet make a quick return to the Premier League, even if he signs for Schalke permanently.