Hamburg have registered their interest in a summer swoop for Schalke full-back Rafinha.
Cash-strapped Schalke set to cash in on Brazilian full-back
Hamburg have registered their interest in a summer swoop for Schalke full-back Rafinha.
The Brazilian defender looked set to join Bayern Munich last summer, only for Schalke coach Felix Magath to block the move.
But with last season's Bundesliga runners-up suffering financial problems, they may have to cash in this summer.
Rafinha, 24, is out of contract at the end of next season and it is thought Schalke would be willing to sell for around £8million.
"It is true, Hamburger SV have made an enquiry," his agent, Marcos Malaquias, told the
Hamburger Abendblatt newspaper.
Great club
"Of course, HSV would be a great place for Rafinha to play, just as it would be for any other Bundesliga player. They are a great club to play for."
Rafinha has been a first-team regular since joining Schalke from Coritiba in 2005 and is due back in Germany from his summer holidays on Wednesday, when he is set to discuss his future with Magath.
Kevin Kuranyi, Gerald Asamoah and Ze Roberto have already left the Veltins-Arena this summer and Magath knows he must sell players to raise transfer funds.
The Schalke coach has declared that he will listen to offers for any of his players - except for Germany's World Cup goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
