Appiah wants Schalke move

Appiah, 26, is contracted to Fenerbahce who have refused to budge over a whopping 10 million euro price tag that has so far put off Arsenal, Portsmouth, West Ham and Celtic.

The former Udinese and Juventus man is known to want a move to either England or Germany so that his children receive their education in Western Europe and, after his agent implied that a move to Schalke was off the cards because of his wages, the player himself is understood to have waived these demands.

"The biggest hurdle is the transfer fee, as Fenerbahce are very tough negotiators," Schalke general manager Andreas Mueller told Premiere television.

"We had actually forgotten about this transfer, but then we called Appiah again in the last few days and he said he desperately wants to come to us.

"He is prepared to make sacrifices to do so and we are close to an agreement with the player."

Appiah moved to Fenerbahce from Juventus in 2005 for 8 million euros.