Schalke Delighted With Sanchez Signing

The 28 year old has signed a contract a contract with the Königsblauen until 2011 joining from Mexican side Deportivo Toluca.

"Vicente Sanchez was our absolute ideal attacking target” Müller explained.

"He is quick, good on the ball and has a good scoring record. Moreover he is a nice man, who was very popular with his team-mates. Therefore Deportivo Toluca were extremely reluctant to let him go."

Sanchez scored 71 goals in 200 league games for the Mexican outfit, winning the league title in both 2002 and 2005.

"He will liven up the tempo of our game even more and knows exactly where the opposition goal is” trainer Mirko Slomka promised.

"If you look at his record you can see how good his finishing is. Vicente always looks for the most direct route to goal.

"Although he is stronger on his left foot, he can also score great goals with his right.

"He is just as comfortable playing on the left of the attack in a 4-3-3 as a second striker in a 4-4-2” he added.

Sanchez should have little difficulty settling in at the Veltins Arena with compatriots Gustavo Varela and Carlos Grossmuller already at the club.

"I have heard a lot of positives about Schalke from my team-mates in the Uruguayan national team.

"The club ranks among the biggest in Europe. Hopefully I can contribute as much to the success of the team here as I did in Toluca."

Özil Set For Schalke Showdown Talks

It remains unclear whether 19-year-old midfielder Mesut Özil wants to stay at Bundesliga side Schalke 04.

Reports in Turkey (the German U-21 international is of Turkish origin) claim that Özil is resisting a deal to stay at the Veltins-Arena until 2011 amid interest from English giants Arsenal.

Matters haven't been helped after German newspaper Bild printed what are allegedly the terms of the extension offered to the player by Schalke.

"This contract saga needs to be cleared up soon in a sit down meeting," explained Schalke's sporting director Andreas Müller to Kicker.

Initial talks are reported to have taken place during the Königsblauen's winter training camp in Belek, Turkey.

Commitment Needed

"We have discussed the present situation with the player and once again made clear to him that we expect a clear commitment from him to Schalke 04," Müller had earlier told the club's official website.

"There is no ultimatum, but it would be best for Mesut if he could clear his head of all these things before the season kicks off again."

No Guaranteed Starting Spot

Özil is thought to be unhappy at not having a regular starting spot in the Schalke side. Coach Mirko Slomka has usually opted to play either Ivan Rakitic or Carlos-Javier Grossmüller in the central midfield role, with Özil also often overlooked as a candidate for Schalke's wide positions.

Nevertheless, he featured in 11 of the Königsblauen's opening 17 Bundesliga games, and a further four times in the Champions League, and Müller stressed that the youngster had an important part to play at Schalke, both this season and in years to come. "Mesut is a very good players with tremendous prospects," he told Kicker.

Kuranyi Sidelined With Lung Infection

German international Kevin Kuranyi had to call doctors in the middle of the night after being taken ill in Belek, Turkey.

The striker was at a training camp with the rest of the Schalke 04 squad as they prepare for the second half of the Bundesliga season.

German newspaper Bild is reporting that Kuranyi travelled to Turkey later than the rest of his team-mates so he could be present at the birth of daughter on Sunday.

The striker was already suffering with a stomach and intestinal infection, for which he had been taking medication, and after taking a turn for the worst on the flight east, things reached a head on Monday night as a lung infection was diagnosed.

Schalke doctors have told Kuranyi not to leave his bed at the hotel for the time being, therefore ruling him out of the participating in the Turkish trip.

It is not yet known when the marksman will be able to commence training again. The Bundesliga resumes at the beginning of February.