Schalke 04's Belgian international Marc Wilmots is reportedly close to moving to French side Bordeaux for 15 million marks ($17.2m), his German club's manager Rudi Assauer confirmed Monday.
Assauer said that the robust midfielder is in Bordeaux where he has already undergone a physical and held talks with the French first division outfit.
"Everything else will be decided in the coming days," Assauer said.
The move is shrouded in secrecy - at least from the German end. French sports paper L'Equipe, however, knew enough to even have a journalist present for Wilmots' physical check-up Sunday.
The latest rumor now is that Wilmots may not pass it, and that he may even need surgery on an injury, scuppering the prospective transfer.
The 31-year-old missed much of last season with a nagging knee problem.
Wilmots' anticipated departure is unexpected because he extended his contract at Schalke 04 before Euro 2000 so that the club would have no doubts about his loyalties.
However, the Belgian is known to be upset that ex-German international Andreas Moller was signed from Borussia Dortmund without his consultation. It's a transfer, which Wilmots believes threatens his central role in the team.
Assauer has sought to appease him and was pleased he won Wilmot's signature for a contract extension until the middle of 2003. It does contain an escape clause however allowing him to leave Schalke at the end of this season if things don't work out with Moller.
Wilmots is a powerful midfield grafter who helped steer Schalke to their historic 1997 UEFA Cup victory over Inter Milan. He has scored 21 goals for them in 104 Bundesliga games - (AFP)
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