Germany at the Confederations Cup, Leon Goretzka is likely to slip further from their grasp. Two excellent goals in the semi-final

                                                                                          The 22-year-old who holds all the cards with his contract expiring next summer and a queue of top clubs headed by Bayern Munich and Arsenal ready to do business.he defending champions are competing here with a shadow squad of which Goretzka has been the one to admire most. After a slow start to his international career he has finally taken the opportunity to establish himself at this tournament.

Long regarded as one of the standout young talents in German football, Goretzka came of age for Schalke last season with consistent displays and a mercifully injury-free campaign. He has missed more than 30 per cent of all the Bundesliga games he’s been eligible for at Schalke due to various knocks, niggles, strains and illnesses. He is now playing every week and ready to kick on to the next level.There are reports in Germany that Schalke are ready to give him a pay-rise and an exit clause for 2018, such is their fear of losing him for nothing. Schalke have invested a lot of time and money in Goretzka and they won’t face losing him without a fight.

They have sold on plenty of promising players before - most recently in the shape of national team-mates Julian Draxler and Leroy Sane - but would dearly love some more use out of Goretzka. He has in many ways just got going in royal blue, but the lure of Bayern is strong.