Bordon set to sign for Schalke
BERLIN, Germany (Reuters) -- German side Schalke 04 are set to sign Brazilian defender Marcelo Bordon from Bundesliga rivals Stuttgart at the end of next season.
Stuttgart said the 28-year-old, who partners Portuguese Fernando Meira in the league's tightest defense, had informed the club he was not willing to extend his contract.
"Marcelo Bordon has received a great offer and we cannot offer him anything near as good," Stuttgart coach Felix Magath said in a statement.
Schalke, seeking to win their first championship since 1958, have already lured the league's current top scorer, Brazilian Ailton, and Serbian defender Mladen Krstajic to their squad. Both will move on free transfers for the start of next season.
Stuttgart, who are on tighter financial reins than Schalke despite playing in the Champions League this season, have persuaded young German striker Kevin Kuranyi and defender Andreas Hinkel to sign contract extensions.
Schalke lie eighth in the standings, 15 points behind leaders Werder Bremen and 11 adrift of fourth-placed Stuttgart.
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