SCHALKE MAY BE SET TO SELL SAND

GERMAN Bundesliga outfit Schalke 04 have revealed that they may be willing to sell top-scorer Ebbe Sand for the right price, with a fee of around 175 million Danish kronor (£14.25 million) being quoted for the striker.

Danish international Sand has been linked with a move to Aston Villa recently, but it is believed that Schalke turned down an £11 million offer from the Midlands club, and the player himself has insisted that he is not pushing for a move.

"I am happy to be with Schalke where I play in the starting line-up and have good sporting possibilities," Sand told Danish daily Politiken.

"If we finish in the top four, we get to play in the Champions League," he added. "As I have understood it, the club wants to keep me, but I am aware that things might not be as simple. There could come an offer that Schalke cannot refuse"

Schalke are believed to be keen to offer Sand a new contract, but they may yet look to cash in on him to an English or Italian club this summer. If they were to sell him, the striker's former club Brondby would be due 30% of any transfer fee.