Horst Heldt: 'We do not need Champions League to sign Sami Khedira'

Schalke 04 sporting director Horst Heldt has insisted that the German outfit do not need Champions League football in order to sign Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira.

Khedira will leave Real Madrid on a free transfer this summer and is widely expected to return to Germany.

It had been claimed that Schalke's interest relied on securing a top-four place in the Bundesliga, but Heldt has denied such speculation.

"Decisions regarding individual players do not depend on whether we will qualify for the Champions League," Heldt told Sport Bild. "Like before, we are looking at whether a transfer of this calibre is a realistic option.

"But in the end there are obviously things that speak in our favour and other things that speak in other clubs' favour. We are not the only club that are interested in signing Khedira."

Schalke currently sit fifth in the Bundesliga table, six points off fourth place.