Schalke general manager Horst Heldt claims the club are determined to keep hold of midfielder Julian Draxler in the summer.

The highly rated 19-year-old has more than three years left on his current contract with the Bundesliga outfit but remains linked to a host of top European teams, including Manchester United, Chelsea and the two Milan clubs.

Julian Draxler
Reuters

However, Heldt does not want to lose the youngster at the end of the season and is also confident that if Schalke secures Champions League qualification for next season, they can convince the midfielder to stay at the Veltins Arena.

"Julian Draxler is under contract at our club and he is an important player. We want to keep him at our club for as long as possible. It's our obligation to ensure he feels fine being with us. From our point of view, it would be helpful to win a berth in the UEFA Champions League for next season. This would be a boost!" the German pointed out.

Draxler, who joined Schalke's academy as a seven-year-old in 2001, has made 32 appearances in all competitions this season, with 10 goals and four assists to his name. The youngster has also won three caps for the German national team, after making his senior debut against Switzerland last year.

Last week, Draxler had stated that he is keen for Schalke to finish in the top four this season and clinch a Champions League spot.

"We've still got lots of work ahead of us this season. Of course we want to finish in the European places and if possible qualify for the Champions League. The win against BVB [Borussia Dortmund last week] is another important step in the right direction, but we're still a long way from our goal," Draxler stressed.

Schalke are currently fifth in the Bundesliga table, level on points with fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt, while Mainz, Borussia Monchengladbach and Hamburg are all just a point behind.

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