Schalke hopeful of signing Nastasic on a permanent deal

Schalke 04 sporting director Horst Heldt has confirmed that the Bundesliga outfit are keen on securing the services on defender Matija Nastasic on a permanent contract at the end of the season.

The Serbian international joined Roberto Di Matteo's side on a season-long loan deal having fallen out-of-favour at Manchester City under manager Manuel Pellegrini.

Heldt has now revealed that the club will try to exercise the option of buying the talented centre-back in the summer.

"There is an option to buy Matija Nastasic that comes into force after a certain amount of minutes he's played, and Nastasic's first weeks in general," Heldt said.

"I always confirmed, and I do so now, that we have an option to buy, but this option is conditioned on several situations which must arise."