Leon Goretzka is looking forward to the start of the new campaign with Schalke. - © © gettyimages
Leon Goretzka is looking forward to the start of the new campaign with Schalke. - © © gettyimages

In-demand Leon Goretzka ready to inspire Schalke's revival in 2017/18

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Schalke midfielder Leon Goretzka says he is going nowhere, amid continued speculation regarding his long-term future.

The 22-year-old has only one year left to run on his existing contract with the Royal Blues, but has vehemently denied talk of a 'done deal' with record Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich ahead of a decisive campaign on all fronts.

Watch: Goretzka discusses his Schalke hopes and future

"There is no agreement, it's complete nonsense," Goretzka told media on Saturday. "Obviously, I understand that this subject is interesting a lot of people. I have made it clear that if a decision is made, I will announce it. Because that's not the case, I have nothing new to report."

Encouraging words for Schalke. A club in flux following last season's below-par mid-table showing, new head coach Domenico Tedesco is keen to build his royal-blue revamp around the Germany star, whose box-to-box brilliance was integral to the world champions' maiden FIFA Confederations Cup triumph earlier this summer.

"Leon Goretzka is a Schalke player," Tedesco commented. "It's about the here and now - everything else is of secondary importance. He will be a very important player for us, and I'll treat him as such. What's important is that he is willing to walk over hot coals for us."

Watch: Leon Goretzka is blossoming into a world-class midfielder

Duly putting his neck out for the Schalke cause, Goretzka is already on the mend just days after picking up a thigh injury on his return to first-team training at the start of the week. The aptly branded 'new Michael Ballack' is running again and fully expects to be fit in time for the season-opening clash with BFC Dynamo in the first round of the DFB Cup on 14 August.

"There are varying degrees of injury with this kind of thing, but mine was relatively minor," he revealed from Schalke's pre-season training camp in Mittersill, Austria. "We'll take it day by day, but it'll be back to normal soon. It's no big deal. I'll be back to full fitness in time for the start of the new season."

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