Schalke defender Joel Matip is not interested in a move to Newcastle United, according to German publication DerWesten.
The Magpies are desperate to bolster their defensive option this summer and were targeting a cut-price move for Matip, as he entered the last year of his contract. It is believed a bid in the region of £7million would have sufficed.
However, Schalke manager Horst Heldt has put an abrupt end to those rumours by stating that the 23-year-old is happy at the Bundesliga club.
Heldt has been quoted as saying: “Joel wants to stay at Schalke. So far we have not yet negotiated, but only an exploratory talk.”
Reports in Germany also claim that even if Matip was to leave the club, it would be for a higher calibre side than Newcastle United, who just about stayed in the Premier League last season.
Matip is a Cameroon international who was scouted by Schalke when he was playing for Bochum’s youth teams. He has gone on to establish himself as a key member in the Schalke side and has accumulated over 150 appearances for them. He is also a regular in the Cameron national team.
