By John Edwards

PUBLISHED: 07:34 EST, 28 December 2012 | UPDATED: 07:55 EST, 28 December 2012

Arsenal and Liverpool have been given the green light to move in for Lewis Holtby after the Germany midfielder scrapped contract talks with Schalke.

After months of negotiations with Schalke's board, the 22-year old midfielder announced his intention to quit the Bundesliga club, in a development that will alert a host of admirers headed by the Barclays Premier League pair.

Both Arsene Wenger and his Liverpool counterpart Brendan Rodgers have expressed an interest in him and will be keener than ever, now he can be snapped up for a knockdown fee next month or for nothing at the end of the season.

London calling? London are on red alert after Schalke revealed Lewis Holtby intends to quit the German club

London calling? London are on red alert after Schalke revealed Lewis Holtby intends to quit the German club

Signed from Alemannia Aachen in 2009, Holtby has developed into one of Germany's most prominent young midfielders and was considered integral to Schalke's hopes of challenging the likes of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund at the top of the Bundesliga.

They were hoping he would follow another Arsenal target, Holland striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar, in committing his future to the club, but board member Horst Heldt was forced to concede defeat.

'We had hoped Lewis saw his future at Schalke beyond the end of this season,' said Heldt. 'But he has made a personal decision that we respect.

Up for grabs: Holtby, who has an English father, has represented Germany three times at senior level

Up for grabs: Holtby, who has an English father, has represented Germany three times at senior level

We are sure he will give everything between now and the end of the season.'

Arsenal and Liverpool must now decide whether to battle it out over personal terms in the summer or part with a cut-price fee now to land him in the January window.

Holtby's English father Chris is a lifelong Everton fan, and the Schalke playmaker recently admitted that he, too, has an allegiance to the Goodison Park club.

Though he chose to represent Germany at international level, rather than England, and has been capped three times since his debut against Azerbaijan 18 months ago, he has made no secret of his wish to play in the Premier League.

In demand: Holtby, who is also fancied by Liverpool, spent a successful loan spell at Mainz in 2010

In demand: Holtby, who is also fancied by Liverpool, spent a successful loan spell at Mainz in 2010


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we do not need another pint pot.

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He wo,nt go to Liverpool or Arsenal,one of the money bags outfits will sign him for a huge fee and massive pay cheque every week.

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I'd love to see him at the emirates tearing it up with podolski.

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Really Hopes He Goes To Arsenal, He Fits Their Play.

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Jamie Carragher is an Everton fan and look at him. Having said that, he'll only choose liverpool if we offer him the money.

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This lad is a dam good player. I hope Arsene Wenger and the Arsenal board will move quickly and get the deal done and not procrastinate as is their trade mark arguing over pennies there by losing out as we did on Cahill, Mata and a host of other quality players that we have lost out on !!!!!!

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He was born in Germany and has never played in England, so I don't quite understand how he could "return"...that being said, Arsenal, not Liverpool, is the team for a player of his caliber.

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theres no point stepping backwards and play for liverpool when schalke still competes in CL, go to arsenal or even everton!

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If you love Everton then join them and I'm an arsenal fan who would love you to play for us. Just would be nice to see passion before pounds for once

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None of us know where he will go or if he will be using this announcement as a tool to get more money out of an improved shalke deal so why the snide comments about Liverpool? I think people need to get their facts straight though when stating he won't go to Liverpool because he's an Everton fan, he clearly stated he wouldn't allow that to stop him moving to Liverpool, check Wikipedia.

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